Carterton, in red, are unbeaten in the Premier championship round. PHOTO/FILE
NETBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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Jo Kelly and Co Carterton Maroon can move a step closer to sealing the top seeding for the Wairarapa premier one semifinals in this weekend’s second to last round of matches.
Carterton are unbeaten in their three games in the championship round and tonight, play newcomers Marty Masters, who have yet to win a game since winning promotion.
Carterton come into the game on the back of a 41-30 win over Wairarapa College, which followed a one-point win over three-time defending champions Harcourts, although that result was later declared a win by default, denying Harcourts a valuable losing bonus point.
Carterton are favoured to win comfortably over Marty, who have been competitive at times but have struggled to find their feet in the top division and have suffered three heavy losses.
Celtic can set up a potential decider with Carterton for the top seeding with victory over Waicol in tonight’s feature match.
Celtic and Waicol go into the clash on the back of losses – Celtic to Harcourts [30-41], and Waicol to Carterton.
A Waicol win would almost assure them of a place in the semifinals, although a loss would keep them on the same points or one point ahead of Greytown Holmes Construction, should they pick up a losing bonus point.
Greytown’s prospects of making the top four probably rest on facing Waicol in a do-or-die match, given that they will start rank outsiders against Harcourts in tomorrow morning’s game at the Trust House Wairarapa Netball Centre.
Harcourts have the easiest route and should finish with big wins over Greytown and next week against Marty. That could be enough to sneak into second place or even the top spot if results of other games go their way.
STANDINGS
Carterton 12 points; Celtic 8; Harcourts 6; Wairarapa College 4, Greytown 4; Marty Masters 0.
