KEY POINTS:
Defending champions Auckland-Waitakere secured their place in tomorrow's final of the national netball championships with a well-paced 50-42 win over Otago in Rotorua today.
Although the scores were tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter, Auckland-Waitakere's constant midcourt defensive pressure started to tell in the second spell and they went into the main break 26-22 ahead.
Trailing 32-39 at three-quarter time, Otago battled back well to come within three of the northerners midway through the final spell.
But some excellent work from goal shoot Jade Topia, who shot at 87 per cent in sinking 43 from 49 attempts, pulled Auckland-Waitakere through for the win.
Otago paid the price for some wayward shooting, especially in the first half, when hard-earned possession won by solid defending was repeatedly squandered.
The Otago shooters - Jess Tuki and Grier Campbell in the first quarter and Tuki and Rihi Salter in the second - managed a woeful 22 from 39 attempts for a 56 per cent success rate at halftime.
Otago had more than enough possession, putting up 69 shots over the entire game, but sunk only 42 at 61 per cent.
Much of the credit for that went to Auckland-Waitakere's defensive circle unit of Kate Dowling and Rachel Rasmussen, who put Otago's shooters under constant pressure.
Auckland coach Paula Bailey stuck with her starting combination throughout, and was rewarded with a more cohesive team effort, especially in the midcourt where Grace Rasmussen and Rawinia Everitt moved the ball confidently and fed their shooters well.
Otago coach Georgina Salter readjusted her shooting combination in the third quarter, taking off daughter Rihi, bringing Campbell back on and moving Tuki back to goal attack.
In combination with a defensive shuffle - Jess Moulds combining well with a tenacious Debbie White at goal defence - the move paid dividends as Otago sunk 10 from 13 for the quarter and restricted Auckland-Waitakere to 13 from 20.
Although Otago closed the gap briefly in the last quarter, Auckland-Waitakere maintained composure over the closing stages to secure the win.
- NZPA
