Premier netball reaches knockout stages

Local netball heats up this week as the sudden death playoffs start for the NBS premier grade on Thursday.

Withs Jacks OPD and Prices Waimea Ahurei coming in as favourites, Richmond F45 and Nelson Girls College senior A can still steal the show.

A double-elimination structure gives the top two seeds a distinct advantage, while Richmond and Nelson Girls will have to be perfect if they want to lift the title next weekend.

This Thursday sees the first round of playoffs, with Richmond and Nelson Girls College fighting to keep their seasons alive for another week while Jacks and Ahurei look to secure their finals spot.

First off the block is the 3v4 game at 6:15pm, which sees Richmond coming in as favourites having been unbeaten against the school girls this season.

A 65-39 second round win will have them in high spirits of their ability to make the next round, while Nelson Girls College players will be buoyed by the fact they held Richmond to a 44-all draw in their first round encounter.

With it all to play for, both teams have the ability to come away as winners and it will be up to who turns up on the evening.

The second game sees the top two seeds look to secure their spot in the finals, with Jacks and Ahurei the clear top two women’s teams in the region throughout the season.

Their 7:45pm encounter will be the game to watch as Jacks looks to solidify their spot as the top seed.

Throughout the year they have been the team to beat and have looked to be peaking at the right end of the season.

In the past month they have put on some of the most complete local performances of netball in recent memory as they look to finish their season on a high.

With a depth of experience throughout their ranks, they also have the previous knowledge of being under the pressure to lean on as they look to etch their name back into the trophy for another year.

Looking to spoil the party is Ahurei, who have regrouped well despite losing the large majority of their team which lifted the premier trophy at the end of last season.

With just one player from last year’s team back to chase another title this season, it’s been an impressive exercise in the depths of the Prices Waimea club as they’ve remained highly competitive despite the new combinations.

Despite new faces, they’re experienced players who have stepped up for the team as they look to solidify the claim to being the top netball club in the region.

While the loser of the game’s season isn’t over, with a match next Thursday against the winner of Richmond and Nelson Girls College to decide the other spot in Saturday’s finals, it’s not a place either team will want to be in.

The opportunity to rest before the final is a big advantage for whichever team can win this Thursday.

For Prices Waimea Pango and FCL Nelson Men, their season came to an end last week as they were unable to make the knockout stages.

The men are ineligible to qualify as part of their agreement to play in the premier division, while Pango were unable to lift themselves off the bottom of the table in a tense loss to Richmond last week.