KEY POINTS:
A scintillating return to top form by the Southern Sting has spiced up the race for semifinal spots in the National Bank Cup netball competition.
One point now separates the top five teams after the Sting clinically dismantled the previously unbeaten Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 65-44 in Invercargill yesterday.
Clinching a thrilling 50-49 win in the final minute against the Otago Rebels today put the Force in a share on top place on the table with the Sting.
The Magic, Canterbury Flames and Auckland Diamonds are just one point off the pace in a share of third.
The Sting imposed themselves from the outset when they knocked the Magic off their stride, from which the defending champions never recovered.
Shooter Daneka Wipiiti and goalkeeper Megan Hutton were the pillars behind the Sting's upset result.
Wipiiti was an imposing presence in the shooting circle while Hutton created havoc in the Magic's scoring domain with her anticipation and long reach.
In between these two, Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson was a shining line on attack.
Her feeding of the shooters, quick release and positional play was at the heart of her team's superior attacking play.
"It was very well done, there were good connections and everybody had a belief in themselves," Sting coach Robyn Broughton said.
"We really worked hard on the defensive work throughout the court and everybody did their bit today."
The strong blanket defence through the court by the Sting flustered the Magic, the pressure forcing a steady stream of errors.
On the back foot, the Magic were starved of ball for long periods, with star shooter Irene van Dyk given limited opportunities.
The Sting punished any Magic mistake, powering ahead 18-11 by the end of the first quarter and stretching their advantage of 32-21 at halftime.
A rearranged midcourt and five unanswered goals after halftime failed to ignite the Magic, who had no answer to the relentless pressure imposed by the Sting.
Needing to win today in Dunedin to keep their season alive, the Rebels fell just short.
On the back of some impressive play from shooters Jodi Te Huna and Angela Mitchell and effective defensive work from Demelza Fellowes, the Rebels held a slight buffer throughout the match.
Time and again, they rebuffed the threatening Force as the intensity lifted in the final quarter.
Few goals were scored in this quarter as big defensive efforts at both ends caused a string of errors.
The Force drew level with less than one minute remaining and quickly nailed the decider after defender Leana de Bruin grabbed a late intercept.
Shooter Megan Dehn potted 24 goals from 26 attempts.
"At least we fought right until the end and while it wasn't pretty out there we'll take the win," Force coach Yvonne Willering said.
"We lacked intensity throughout and then we got caught in their ball game.
"We weren't used to the intense one-on-one marking that they did and credit to them for that."
The Auckland Diamonds were made to battle hard before prevailing 48-36 over the Capital Shakers for their third successive win.
The Shakers were well in it after drawing level at halftime and trailing by just four goals heading into the final quarter but the Diamonds saved their best until last, with defender Anna Scarlett playing a strong role.
The Flames returned to winning form with an untroubled 60-31 win over the Flyers.
- NZPA
