Brian Bell crashed heavily again this week to BSP, 23 - 16, after winning a strongly contested match last week against IPA and halting a three game loosing streak, but having lost lost four out of five since the last game of round 1 has not helped their cause. BSP on the other hand have developed a strong working partnership amongst their senior players and now have a lethal attacking unit. Communication is their strongest asset and the homeward stretch to the finals is allowing them to blossom as a team.
Brian Bell were a little overwhelmed at the end but are a good side and can bring on the big plays. They lack a communication and have become a little predictable. A variation to their attack may help their cause however they come up against a determined Westpac this weekend who will prove difficult to beat.
Westpac dispatched Fairdeal Liquors 21 - 18 on Sunday, who's wheels seem to have fallen off the cart. As round 1 front runners both this and last year, Fairdeal have a had a problem finishing strongly and their play lacks both the enthusiasm and energy they had in round 1. To their credit FDL did play with only 6 players for the entire match, but the lack of drive seems to be reminiscent of last year. Westpac were happy to drive the point home as in all cases the points average is the all important number.
The surprise package for premier division has to be Nambawan Super Limited who have just gone flat over the last two weeks. Even new uniforms have not been able to inspire the Superfund ladies to any real heights and this time to the advantage of IPA who would be happy to improve their points advantage . Two losses in a row spells bad news for them and no doubting captain/coach Loka Kula will be looking carefully at the combinations NSL field every week from here on in.
One thing clear yesterday is NSL's lack of chatter on the court, they just did not communicate well at all and will need to improve this aspect of the game. Without communication, NSL's defense and mid court were just not able to anticipate the IPA attack leaving their resurgence very late in the game.
IPA on the other hand relished the win and their attacking four have again hit their straps into a lethal passing combination near the hoop.
What can we say about Daltron other than their prospects in the premier division become slimmer each week. They forfeited their second match of this round to Air Niugini.
The other front runner - Air Niugini is now looking all the part and though their forfeit win against Daltron doesn't give them a run, they seen to be moving well, almost a cruising altitude now and will be one of two teams to watch over the coming weeks.
In other divisions the call has become a little more clearer with a front runner breaking away from the pack in most. In division 1 Datec surprisingly succumbed to a much more resilient Kenmore team by 18 nets to 20 while in Division 2 PNGFOC continues to dominate the limelight but this time only managing to keep Steamships Admin out by one net.24 - 23.
Division 9's Price Waterhouse Coopers showed off their new colours on Sunday and it seems to work wonders because they were able to put paid to MRDC on court 3 and producing a fine game in the process. Even without their star shooter, Pole Kassman, they managed to rack up a comfortable win.
Divison 8's front runner Security Plus also made good their claim on the 2010 prize when they beat off a highly motivated Proclean side 18 - 11.
The game of the day for our money has to be that between SMEC and Lamana Hotel in division 7. With a scoreline of 21 -15, Smec were able to counter some very polished play by Lamana which boast some fairly senior netball names. Their belief in themselves showed in their play and a hearty congratulations should go out to them.
The other game of note on Sunday has to be the division 9's clash between 1st and 2nd placed teams. Post Courier managing to hold out a determined Dekenai Constructions 27 to 23. It was a lapse in concentration by the construction contractors that allowed Post Courier to capitalise on and hold the lead. Post Courier are working their way back up the competition after leaving some years ago to contest the PSNA competition. They have been premier division champions of the PCNC before and are hungry to get back to that level.
There are those teams that are drawn to the PCNC by the competition and allowance for them is always made, but spare a thought for the sides that come for the social values, for mate ship and friendships and simply for wanting a healthier lifestyle. Take you hats off for Exxon Mobil in Division 10 and High Arctic Energy who attend week in week out and compete the best they can. On Sunday Exxon only had five players but true to form they donned their bibs, went out there and gave it there best. A hot day to boot they put up a great fight against Nasfund 2 and surprised themselves with the final score of 10 - 17. Well done ladies. Similarly Higher Arctic Energy took the court against Ernst & Young and put up quite a show. Not bad HAE.
Also in division 10, B-Mobile struggled with Coffey International but put up a great show nonetheless, going down 25 - 17, on court 9. Some real inspirational moments in that game and no doubting they will improve as the weeks progress. On court 8 MRL and Renos were going toe to toe in a real close and topsy turvey game.
Images from other games include Data Nets who rallied without play maker Lua Rikits, Crowne Plaza who gave Second Time Around a run for their money and Able Computing who managed a healthy win, the second for the competition against Esco 2.
We'll be looking to get our gallery from Sunday uploaded by Wednesday.
See you all near the hoop
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