Maximum points goal for Central

Maximum points goal for Central

Central will be out for maximum points in the Beko Netball League having come frustratingly close in their outings to date.

Their Round 4 clash against Northern on Sunday at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua is an opportunity for the side to get one back after falling to the northerners by just one goal in Round 2.

They still have two bonus points on the board having finished within five goals in both of their games – including a 51-54 loss to Waikato Bay of Plenty (WBOP) – but maximum points will be an incentive in front of a home crowd.

Defender Karin Burger has made an impressive start to the new competition picking up seven intercepts and two deflections when the two sides last met, and the South African-born netballer backing it up with another six intercepts and deflections against WBOP in Round 3.

Central shooters look to keep their defensive opponents guessing by sharing the shooting responsibilities with Tiana Metuarau and Renee Matoe netting over 20 goals each. Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie did however call on the services of Pulse stand-in Te Amo Tibble in their season opener and could be an option again against a tough North defence line.

Mystics squad member Michaela Sokolich-Beatson started for the North side in the tense Round 2 match and coach Helene Wilson will be hoping to have the defender’s services again after she snaffled six deflections and two intercepts in the three quarters she played.

At the other end of the court, Elisapeta Toeava continues to add the drive up front while Tera-Maria Amari has been the go-to shooter in the circle, netting the bulk of her team’s goals in their opening two games.

But Northern will be wary that despite the one goal win, Central had plenty of shooting opportunities to take the game and must be looking to capitalise this time around.

Meanwhile, South have a quick turnaround to host the unbeaten WBOP at the ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill on Saturday.

Captain Hayley Crofts lamented the number of errors in her team’s one-goal loss to Mainland and it will be an area of focus against a tough WBOP side. Her match-up with Ariana Cable-Dixon in the middle will be one to watch with both players leading the feeds into their respective shooting circles in recent weeks.

South opened their season with a three-goal win over North before going down to Mainland while WBOP has had wins over Mainland and Central.

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