The lady retailers were a little shocked at the end of today's game because that now makes it three embarrassingly large losses in a row for a team that one month ago were looking top shelf material. Captain/coach Carolyn Genaia looked like the soles of her shoes had burned through and was scratching for answers herself, but Brian Bell has a proven track record as an excellent netball team and needs only to shake from this patch of purple to be back in the driver's seat again.
A great contest between Air Niugini and Brian Bell
Time, however, is Brian Bell's worst enemy because with the writing on the wall they know they must really get their act together quickly from here on if they are to have any chance of making the finals.
It was a painful welcome back for Emily Maha who had to miss several games attending to family commitments and was clearly frustrated when the simple things seemed so hard to get done. To add salt to the wound each turn over was punished by PX with a net at the other end.
Air Niugini on the other hand have hit excellent form and may be the team now to watch over the next four weeks. Stand out players for PX include second half shooter, Stella Wakela and the defensive three.
IPA are the other team hitting form at the right time and today showed what they are capable of, finishing off their attack well every time they came near the hoop and spearheaded by a well organised and hungry attacking four, they were lethal against Fairdeal this afternoon. By dispatching the competition front runner's, Fairdeal Liquor, this afternoon 25 - 16, IPA have also put their hand up as a real contender for this year's prize. Captain/coach Julianne Maliaki was still not completely happy about some of the more basic aspects of their game and will be making it a priority for them to get it right at training, but you could feel a real buzz among the team members this afternoon. They are in the right spirit and that in itself must account for something. Fairdeal for their part must be wondering how their prospects look with two losses on the trot as well.
The timing and the size of this weeks loss has to be a concern for Fairdeal because it was also at about this time last year that the other teams started to reel them in after they lead the comp into round 2. FDL are a good team and don't want to be in that situation again this year.
(above) IPA in maroon and gold trim controlled FDL well today
(above) Great defense by Westpac's Jenny Lakaro
was a feature of this game and they nearly grabbed a win from it.
In the final game of the afternoon Westpac very narrowly missed out on a draw. The final score NSL 14 - 13. NSL must be breathing a deep sigh of relief at full time as they seemed to struggle a bit in the dying stages of the game, lacking the intensity they showed when beating Fairdeal last week. Westpac did muscle up this week and played a sound game especially in defense, with Keeper, Jenny Lakaro and Defender, Notau Leko putting in an exceptional effort
What it has been, is a crazy weekend and from the looks of things it's going to get crazier.
BSP had an easy 3-points bagged as Daltron never showed today. Lets hope they get themselves sorted after Easter. Instead, BSP had a friendly match with division 1's Fincorp who also had a forfeit win. Although BSP played their players in positions they don't normally play in, Fincorp took the game as a good training run and beat the premier division defending champions in the process.
In other divisions, the grind continues as teams like Division 2's PNGFOC returned to their winning form beating a very determined BSP2, 26 - 19 and SMEC in division 7 held onto a well deserved draw with division leaders NPS 21 - 21. A mightly effort considering NPS easily accounted for Pacific Foods last week. Curiously, Lamana could not field a team today loosing by forfeit to Ray White Real Estate which will cause the ladder in division 7 to congest again at the top.
Other draws today include the game between Century 21 and ProClean in Div 8, 20 - 20. From all accounts the lead changed almost a million times during the match on court 4 (just kidding), ending with an exhausting but satisfying draw for both teams.
In division 1, Fincorp had a free pass as East West Transport couldn't muster the numbers take the court, Datec freed up the air a little with their new uniforms to take out Airlines PNG, 24 - 12 and division leaders Veupunama took care of business against Pryde Furnitures, 28 - 8.
(above) There is no mistaking Datec now in their new uniforms.
Today it was joy against Airlines PNG.
(above) Veupu's Kila Leana leads the attack
(above) SP have their second win with this effort against Hastings
(above) Able keeper Lahui Loi defends her net against
DataNets Anne Griffin. This was Able's first win of the season
The story's we really enjoy telling is that of the underdog getting up to win and there are several that are worth of a mention today. In division 2, SP Brewery who who couldn't have even paid for a win in round 1 celebrated their first win last week but then lo and behold, we see them putting together back to back wins this week by beating Hastings Deering, 18 nets to 14. Must be something you drank girls, but whatever it is, keep drinking it because it's working. Then in Division 6, Able Computing won their first ever game of the season when they beat 3rd placed DataNets 12 - 10. It was the first time for the Blue and Red colours to be hoisted as winners and they loved every minute afterward.
A crazy weekend indeed.
Next weekend is Easter Sunday and there will not be any games played but immediately after that the competition will lift a gear and the five crucial games to the finals will be mustered. It'll be interesting times no doubt and we'll be there to bring you the details every step of the way. If you have a story we missed or would like to tell, please do not hesitate to shoot it through. We'd love to see them and publish them for the world to enjoy.
Gallery images should posted Monday evening. So keep a look out.
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