2016 Beko Netball League - Grand Final Preview

2016 Beko Netball League - Grand Final Preview

Thursday 23 June, 2016

Grand Final Fixture
Netball South v Netball Central
6.00pm, Sunday 26 June
The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Broadcast: LIVE on SKY Sport NZ 3 from 5:50pm (check local guides)

________________________________________

Beko Netball League title to be decided

South are preparing for star shooter Jennifer O’Connell to come under close scrutiny as they attempt to win the inaugural Beko Netball League crown.

They head to The Trusts Arena in Auckland on Sunday to take on Central in the grand final of Netball’s new national competition.

The ledger stands at one game each this season with Central winning the first meeting by one goal and South squaring it up with a 16-goal victory last week which was enough to propel them into the Beko Netball League Grand Final as the top ranked side.

Nothing changes for South now they have made the last two with coach Lauren Piebenga saying her side will stick to the “preparation and processes” which have taken them to the title decider.

“We certainly took the hard road to get ourselves to this position,” she said with a laugh. “But we’re looking forward to the final.”

She expected Central to be “extremely tough and physical” and would be out to reign in prolific shooter O’Connell who netted 43 of her teams goals when the two teams met last.

“As the tournament’s gone on she’s certainly attracted a lot of attention,” Piebenga said of her shooter. “But we have the goal attacks to take that pressure off and change it up if needed. We’ve prepared for that.”

South will also have their ANZ Championship players on hand including defender Abby Erwood, mid-courter Stacey Peeters and goal attack Jamie Hume.

Erwood has been a constant performer at the back for South and will again need a solid performance against another promising young Kiwi shooter in Tiana Metuarau, while the battle in the midcourt between captains Hayley Crofts and Sheridan Bignall will also be one to watch with both players key links through the middle.

Bignall acknowledged Central would need to combat the height of O’Connell by applying more pressure “out front” after the 1.93m shooter dominated the round robin game.

Only one goal separated the two teams at half-time last week but South netted six goals to Central’s one early in the third spell to give them the edge.

Useful Links
FOLLOW: Draw and Results (including Match Centre)
FOLLOW: Points Table
READ: Team Lists
WATCH: Beko Netball League Highlights

ENDS

© Scoop Media