Counties Manukau have won the 91色情片 Cup for the first time after nailing a well-crafted 45-32 over Wellington in the final of the NetballSmart Netball NZ Open Champs at the Christchurch Netball Centre on Saturday.
Beaten finalists last year, the experienced Counties Manukau side made sure second time around with a polished performance while denying Wellington any real opportunity to mount an effective challenge.
``I鈥檓 excited for the fact that it鈥檚 been a long season and the excitement was almost a relief that the girls have done the job for themselves, so I鈥檓 really just excited for them,鈥欌�� Counties Manukau coach Michelle Parsons said.
``The connectedness was the difference for us today, right across the court. Everybody on attack and on defence was working to the game plan, but, also the effort. You could not question the effort and intensity, that鈥檚 what I was most proud of. It was a real collective, connected group on court today.鈥欌��
Both sides came into the final unbeaten, Counties Manukau with the majority of their line-up well-versed in playing together over several seasons while Wellington fronted with a youthful but talented team, exceeding their expectations after having the original goal of just making the top eight.
Wellington had the brightest of starts when scoring the first three goals of the match but that鈥檚 about as good as it got for the team from the Capital. Counties Manukau quickly swung into action, wiping off the deficit and then putting their foot down.
A strong Counties Manukau defence end shut down Wellington鈥檚 attacking momentum to deny the potent shooting duo of Khiarna Williams and Phoenix Schwalger opportunities while producing an impressive effort of their own on attack.
Well-performed shooters Crystal Maro and Jaelin Tulikaka worked seamlessly in tandem, keeping the scoreboard ticking over to leave Wellington firmly on the back foot when reeling off a productive 15-6 lead at the first break.
Wellington competed on more equal terms in the second stanza but found it tough to make any significant inroads against the well-drilled Counties Manukau team, who impressed across all areas of the court.
Using their experience, Counties Manukau continued to thwart Wellington鈥檚 progress when taking a healthy 23-13 lead into halftime.
Wellington found more impetus on attack during the third quarter where Williams and Schwalger got more ball in their hands but the poise and accuracy of Counties Manukau negated any real damage being done.
With a 35-22 lead going into the last break, Counties Manukau had a firm grip on the trophy and despite a drawn last quarter were well-deserving of their history-making win.
Manawatu Green completed a successful tournament when snatching third place with a tight 46-43 win over Wait膩kere.
With the teams locked up at 13-all at the first break, there was never more than handful of goals separating the teams as fortunes ebbed and flowed. The steadying influence and leadership of Manawatu goal attack Renee Matoe probably proving the difference in the end.
Guiding play expertly while providing the link to tall goal shoot Elizabeth Adrole, Matoe was a constant presence throughout.
Recovering from a four-goal deficit in the second quarter before edging to a 25-23 lead at the main break, Manawatu Green kept their noses in front for the rest of the match but faced some anxious moments on the way.
Closing out the third quarter with a 36-33 lead, Manawatu Green stretched out to a five-goal buffer when a Wait膩kere in-circle defender was stood down for two minutes for repeated infringing.
That looked to have ended any chances for Wait膩kere but once restored to seven players, they stormed back strongly. With more ball finding its way to shooter Priscilla Rasmussen, and reducing the gap to two with just over two minutes to go, Manawatu Green holding their nerve to clinch a meritorious win.