Finals the focus for Fierce
THE Phoenix Fierce will treat Wednesday night’s Senior Division 1 match against Leprechauns as a rehearsal for the Cairns Netball finals.
The are first and third respectively with two rounds of the regular season left, and are a chance to meet in the second week of finals next month.
The Fierce claimed a 52-37 win over the Leps when they met earlier this season, but coach Naomi Moke said a repeat of the Round 4 result would not come easily against the 2019 grand finalists.
“It will be a different Leps side to what we played against earlier in the season,” she said.
“I think they’ve really sealed their A-grade team now and those girls have been playing netball for a longer period of time than some of our girls.
“We do have a lot of experienced girls, however we do have half that are very fresh to netball. It will be good to see where we’re at.”
Moke was expecting another dominant showing from Wendy Stafford, and said the shooter’s recent form had been a promising sign with finals right around the corner.
“She’s playing her best netball in years,” Moke said.
“It’s her time to shine.
“She was always the baby in her Saints team, which you would be playing with Jacqui (Dupuy), who is such an experienced netball player, but now she has to be the experienced netball player — go and be that leader.”
The competition will take a two-week hiatus, with teams to return to the court for the final round on October 7, before finals the following week.