Steel long shot to host final
THE Southern Steel’s hopes of a home final remain alive.
A 7558 win over the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Auckland last night and a 4439 loss for the Central Pulse against the Mainland Tactix leave the Steel a chance of claiming top spot.
It remains a long shot, but if the Pulse loses its remaining two games by more than five goals and the Steel beats the Northern Stars on Sunday, it will host the final.
Either way, the Steel is coming into form at the right time of the season, having strung together its fourth consecutive win.
The side was dominant throughout the middle of the game.
It extended its lead from three midway through the second quarter to 14 midway through the third.
Through that period the defence was disruptive, while the attack was finding its shooters — who were accurate — with ease.
Goal shoot Jennifer O’Connell continued her strong form, despite a shaky start, providing a strong target to score 51 goals.
Gina Crampton fed her with ease while at the other end goal keep Courtney Elliott con stantly disrupted the Magic attack.
It was far from a complete performance, however, as the side let the Magic back into the game before pulling away once more.
Indeed it was a slow start as both sides recalibrated after the lights went out, causing a 25minute delay at the start of the game.
The Steel edged in front midway through the first quarter, although some accurate shooting from the Magic helped it stay in touch.
Jennifer O’Connell had a tough time finding her range early, but two rebounds each to her and Te Paea SelbyRickit limited the damage.
The Steel led by four at one point and, after that was reduced to 1312, a strong finish from the Steel left it ahead 1815 at the first break.
The margin remained at three before the Steel took control halfway through the second quarter.
Mistakes crept into the Magic game as Te Huinga Reo SelbyRickit and Elliott continued their strong form to disrupt the Magic attack.
The Steel attack became more clinical, O’Connell finishing accurately and proving a strong target.
With two minutes left in the half, the Steel had extended its lead to 3527 and it was ahead 3831 at halftime.
That momentum continued in the third quarter and the Steel began to run away with the game. It came up with turnover after turnover, Elliott in particular proving strong in that regard.
At the other end the attack was slick, O’Connell continuing her dominance and the feeders easily getting her quality ball.
That resulted in the margin reaching 14, before a slow finish let the Magic go on a 50 run to reduce it to nine.
However, the Steel stemmed that flow quickly and led 5545 at the final break.
The Magic closed the gap to eight early in the fourth quarter, before the Steel regained momentum and ran away with a comfortable win.
In the other game, the Northern Mystics beat the Northern Stars 7052.
AUCKLAND: Netball New Zealand is in a race against time to hire the next Silver Ferns head coach after the resignation of Janine Southby, and the leading candidate may not be immediately available.
The Silver Ferns will next month name their first squad since their disastrous showing at the Commonwealth Games, and with Southby resigning as a result of the review into the Games performance, there is little time to search for her successor.
The Silver Ferns name their squad on August 14 for September’s Quad Series against Australia, England and South Africa, and they will need to quickly comb through candidates.
The standout will surely be Noeline Taurua, who has led the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and Southern Steel to New Zealand domestic titles, before then winning the Australian Super Netball competition in her first year with the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
However, even if Taurua is identified as the best candidate, she is unlikely to be available in time to take over for the Quad Series.
The former Silver Fern is contracted to the Lightning until the end of the 2019 season, and with the Lightning in a playoffs push, her season will not conclude until August 5 (if the Lightning miss the playoffs) or the end of August (if they make the final).
Adding to the complication is the Netball NZ claim it has not been in contact with any prospective candidates.
‘‘We’ve had a head coach in the role up until today and it would have been incredibly unprofessional and inappropriate to make any other approaches,’’ Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie, said.
With a short turnaround to sign a coach before its next squad is named, Wyllie admitted a caretaker coach could be an option.
‘‘Time is of the essence — we need to be realistic, and flexible. That might mean putting in a caretaker coach. We need to work through that process in the next few days,’’ Wyllie said.
Southby’s resignation leaves a clean slate in the Ferns’ coaching staff. Her assistant coach for the Commonwealth Games, Yvette McCauslandDurie, is now offcontract and is unlikely to put her hand up for the role due to being under contract with the Central Pulse for next season.
‘‘I would assume you couldn’t have that role if you were in a head coach role at a franchise anyway, so I had never looked at that. I signed up last year for two years [with the Pulse] and I feel that’s a really important step for me in my development. I’ve got lots still to learn,’’ she told Radio Sport.
McCauslandDurie said she would be more likely to push for a role as coach of the newly formed New Zealand A side, or try to stay on as assistant.
‘‘What I’ve had with the assistant coach role has been really significant, and if there’s something around that role — it might work.’’ — NZME
❛ Time is of the essence — we need to be realistic, and flexible. That might mean putting
in a caretaker coach