Beth Tremlett’s [C] Greytown side take on Waicol in key match. PHOTO/FILE
NETBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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With three rounds before the competition splits into top four and bottom four in Premier One, six teams remain in contention to make the top division.
Celtic are a shoo-in, with an unbeaten record and leading on 12 points.
Then follow Harcourts, Wairarapa College A, and Carterton Legends on 10 points.
Carterton Red are only a win behind on seven points, followed by Greytown Holmes Construction on four points.
Defending champions Harcourts could lock in their place with a win over bottom-of-table Gladstone Heat last night.
From there, the permutations get a bit murkier.
Waicol face a tricky finish, with games against Greytown [today at Colombo Rd] followed by Carterton Red and Harcourts.
They must win one of those to be sure of a place in the top four.
Carterton Legends probably have the toughest task. They have games against Celtic [last night] then Harcourts, and a potential winner-take-all encounter with Greytown to finish the round.
Carterton Red would probably need to win two of their three final games, against St Matthew’s A [today], Waicol or Celtic to give themselves a chance of repeating last season’s performance of making the grand final.
Although Greytown are six points off the top four, they do potentially have the best draw, with Waicol, Gladstone, and Legends – but they would need to win all three games.
In this week’s round of games, Celtic and Harcourts are hot favourites to notch victories.
Harcourts played last night against Gladstone Heat, who have yet to win a match but have shown steady improvement.
The Harcourts juggernaut may not be in top gear but should have too much skill and speed throughout the court.
Celtic wouldn’t have been able to take it easy against a Carterton Legends’ side that is chock full of experience.
Celtic have shown they are a polished outfit and should come away with a comfortable win.
The Waicol-Greytown match looks the most intriguing of the weekend.
Waicol suffered their first loss of the season last weekend – to Celtic by five goals – whereas Greytown have proved a difficult opponent for most teams.
The pupils like to play the game at pace and Greytown will call on all their experience to slow the game down and use their height advantage.
Waicol should do enough to bag another three points.
Carterton Red have the ideal opportunity to revive their top four chances against a St Matthew’s team who have been competitive in most games but have yet to register a victory.
Fixtures
Last night
6pm: Harcourts v Gladstone Heat, Carterton Legends v Celtic
Today:
Noon: Wairarapa College A v Greytown Holmes Construction.
1.30pm: St Matthew’s A v Carterton Red.
[All games at Trust House Wairarapa Netball Centre]
