Netball: Flames feel the final Sting

By EMMA CHAMBERLAIN

The Southern Sting have won their third straight Coca-Cola Cup netball title beating the Canterbury Flames 47-44 in Invercargill tonight.

The Flames lost the first quarter to the home side 13-12. In a closely fought battle, the visitors were apparently not put off by a Stadium Southland crowd firmly in the grip of Sting mania.

Outside, where the temperature dropped to minus two degrees, there were reports that some Sting fans were offering as much as $300 for a ticket to the game.

After their strong start, the Flames came unstuck in the second quarter. Outplayed 14-8, they did not cherish possession when it came their way and their high rate of unforced errors was not exactly a tonic for the Sting's near perfect defence.

Down 27-20 at half time, the Flames tightened their game for the third quarter and they were looking like they had done some damage when they went up 10-5 four minutes from the end of the quarter.

But, the Sting came back with three quick goals and took out the quarter 13-11.

Down by 38-33 going into the final quarter, a Coca Cola Cup win was still possible for the Flames.

They put in a powerful finish to win the quarter 11-9, but it was not enough to rein in the Sting, who handled the pressure to take out their third final.