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Air Niugini in sudden-death situation in netball
By JACK AMI
IT will be do or die for Air Niugini and National Teachers Insurance Ltd in the premier division of the Private Companies Netball competition preliminary finals today. The winner of this clash meets Westpac in the grand final next weekend while the loser bows out of the 2008/ 09 campaign. Last week in the major semi final Westpac beat ANG by nine points, 25- 16 and NTIL upset defending champions Bank South Pacific 21- 14. This is another ball game, which should be hard to predict and with ANG’s dominance over NTIL to be tested. Air Niugini has beaten NTIL twice during the season and have the phychological advantage going into this match. ANG senior player Margaret Konu Field blamed their poor midcourt distribution against the minor premiers last weekend as the problem and this week’s training has been focused on polishing up on that area. Konu Field said this was the area that they needed to work over time to win against NTIL. Wing attack Francisca Seseare, centre Jean Torea, and wing defence Frances Mai will lead the Air Niugini assault. NTIL’s Rachel Pat Mark (WA), Rachel Koivi (C) and Lydia Biru (WD) performance need big games like they showed against BSP to win this game. Impressive performance in the midcourt is crucial with shooters Rhonda Nohoro (GS) and Ruth Dai (GA) expected to stay on top of things to maintain the advantage. Air Niugini’s shooting department will be manned by Konu Field (GS) and Esther Babona (GA) to take them home in this suddendeath clash. Goal defence Joyce Nao and goal keeper Stella Wakela have a mammoth task ahead of them to frustrate the opposition shooters Nohoro and Dai who are capable of turning the match in their favor. NTIL’s Emily Mohu (GD) and Eva Ila (GK) must contain the high flyers’ Konu Field and Babona if they want the win. The match should be a close contest and will depend on which side makes the most of the opportunity early in the game and maintain the advantage. |
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