Sting time run perfectly for final

The Force's Angeline Yates and the Sting's Wendy Telfer competing for the ball last night. Picture / Fotopress

Sting 47 Force 44

For the seventh consecutive year the final of the National Bank Cup will be in Invercargill after the Southern Sting edged out the Northern Force in Auckland last night.

The Sting will face the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic on Friday night.

It is a cruel blow for the Magic who now not only have to front up in Invercargill and take on the six times defending champions but also face the loudest and most loyal netball fans in the country after Tauranga's Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre was deemed unsuitable to host the final.

After beating the Sting in the round robin competition, the Yvonne Willering coached Force couldn't back up against the skilful and composed Southland side.

Just a few weeks ago the Sting didn't even look like they were going to make the semifinals after three losses on the trot.

While last night's match at the North Shore Events Centre was always expected to be close, it was once again the Sting's ability to step up under pressure that saw them through.

The return of Adine Wilson, who missed three quarters of the round robin competition with a knee injury, has been the difference for the Sting who now look capable of continuing their reign at the top of netball's premier domestic competition.

In a typically frantic first quarter, the Force appeared to have more urgency than their southern rivals.

On some occasions it worked for them as they picked up on some sloppy Sting passing but on others it was their downfall as they tried to force the ball into their shooters.

Force shooter Daneka Wipiiti made a solid start to the game making plenty of use of her height advantage over her opponent Anna Galvan.

The Force went into the first quarter break ahead 10-9 but a couple of quick goals from the Sting early saw them storm back into the lead.

The Force's midcourt zone caused the Sting some grief but once they got the ball into the attacking third it appeared to move lot freer.

The Sting's mobile shooters, Tania Dalton and Donna Loffhagen, were effective in their use of the dodge managing to pop out under the post possibly a little too often for Willering's liking.

The Sting held a two goal lead over the home side for most of the quarter and went into halftime ahead 22-20.

In a bold move, Willering replaced Wipiiti with young inexperienced shooter Catherine Latu at the break.

Like Wipiiti, Latu towered above the defenders but the Force feeders were a little ill-disciplined which proved costly as the Sting snuck out to a four goal lead midway through the third quarter.

Feisty Force defence saw them pull the score back in the later stages of the quarter but it was the Sting who went into the crucial final quarter ahead by one. The Force had several chances to equal but just couldn't capitalise when it counted.