Cripps must win to stay in contact

CRIPPS Waratah hit the road to Launceston to take on Cavaliers in tomorrow’s Round 13 Tasmanian Netball League match at the Silverdome at 6.15pm.

With AYC-Friends Arrows out in front on 22 points, only percentage separates Northern Hawks, Karana Flames and Kingston Blues on 16 points.

In fifth place on 12 points, tomorrow’s game is a mustwin match if Cripps hope to keep their finals hopes alive.

Cripps have had an injuryinterrupted season, but their young team is full of potential and has won four of the past five games.

Isabel Schueler has been a standout this year with the young player having had an impact in multiple positions, and with the speedy Elise Barwick and Jamie Symons, coach Rosalie Navickas will no doubt be looking to these three to shut down the impact of Cavaliers Dana Lester in the centre.

Cavaliers defender Rachael Smith has been impressive, but will have her work cut out for her with all three Cripps goalies shooting above 80 per cent in last week’s 89-29 win over OHA.

The experienced Kate Archer is combining well with Sophie Navickas and Hollie Moore, and they are starting to find some great rotations in the goal circle.

Though they are yet to beat any of the teams above them, a win tomorrow will be a step in the right direction given their tough run home, with Cripps’ Archer confident her team can triumph.

“We’ve got a few close games coming up that we need to win — we’re just sitting out of the four, we’re at that fifth spot so these next wins for the next three weeks are really important for us if we want to make finals,” she said.

“If we can win these next three games we are definitely looking good to finishing up in that third or fourth position, which is what we’d really like.”

In other matches, Karana takes on OHA tonight at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre at 8.05pm.

Devon has the daunting task of taking on the unstoppable Arrows tomorrow at Hobart Netball and Sports Centre at 3.45pm, and Kingston will be looking to its homecourt advantage when it takes on Burnie at 3.45pm tomorrow at Kingborough Sports Centre.