2013 ANZ Championships – Round 13 Tips

Only two weeks left to go in the home and away season of the ANZ Championship and with six sides still in contention for a finals berth, a number of critical matches will ensure this weekend. Ben Carbonaro sorts the contenders from the pretenders in his preview of Round 13.

 

Results forRound 12 tips

Round 12:  1 units bet, no winners

2013 total:  24 units bet, 14 winners, return of 26.14 units (9% PoT)

2012/ 2013 total:  54 units bet, 34 winners, return of 63.79 units (18% PoT)

 

Our 2011 introductory discussion of how netball line betting works and what to expect from this column

Once again this year, for the purposes of this weekly column, we will only recommend a bet where Ben’s opinion differs from that of bookmakers by at least 3.5 goals.

Here are Ben’s thoughts on Round 13 of the 2013 ANZ Championships:

Round 13 Tips (please note: all times are the local time for the home side)

 

Sunday June 16, 12:10 PM Queensland Firebirds v NSW Swifts

Firebirds:  8-3 (second on ladder), 2-3 home

Swifts:  3-8 (eighth on ladder), 1-5 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  Firebirds got back on deck with a dominant win over West Coast Fever in Perth as Demelza McCloud stood out in defence at goal keeper. Swifts have pushed a lot of the top sides in the second half of this season and pulled off an upset win over Melbourne Vixens, with English international Sonia Mkoloma solid in defence. This shapes as a a close game if Swifts can again put out what they did against the Vixens, while Firebirds are back in the groove and can't be underestimated at home. Firebirds by 4
Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday June 16, 1:40 PM Adelaide Thunderbirds v Northern Mystics

Thunderbirds:  10-1 (first on ladder), 5-0 home

Mystics:  1-10 (tenth on ladder), 0-5 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  Thunderbirds return to the court this week refreshed and confident after a bye. They face a Mystics that got close to Magic on Monday night, but will struggle in front of what some believe is the most passionate and knowledgeable netball crowd in Australia. Thunderbirds by 17

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday June 16, 7:20 PM Waikato/BOP Magic v Melbourne Vixens

Magic:  7-4 (fourth on ladder), 4-0 home

Tactix:  2-9 (ninth on ladder), 1-3 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  In previous seasons, one could easily believe that Magic would dominate an under-performing side like the Northern Mystics. This certainly wasn't the case last Monday night, where Mystics pushed Magic for three quarters before going down by 10 goals. Vixens had a scare against the NSW Swifts, but they have insisted that they are not treating this week's game as a Grand Final rematch given how many changes they have undergone playing and coaching wise. Vixens by 3

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Monday June 17, 7:40 PM Central Pulse v Canterbury Tactix

Pulse:  6-5 (sixth on ladder), 5-1 home

Tactix:  2-9 (ninth on ladder), 1-3 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  In a quirk of the draw, the Pulse face the same opposition they played against in the week before last week's bye. While finals were a genuine chance earlier in the season thanks to improved netball from the Pulse highlighted by some strong personal performances, the hope of making it into the top four is slim. The Tactix were beaten from pillar to post by Southern Steel last week and will be completely outclassed by Pulse. Pulse by 15

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Monday June 10, 7:40 PM West Coast Fever v Southern Steel

Fever:  4-7 (seventh on ladder), 3-3 home

Steel:  6-5 (fifth on ladder), 2-4 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  Fever's sometimes inconsistent season continued last week when they didn't keep to their reputation of playing strongly at home. They turned the ball over 27 times and also started poorly, both of which incensed coach Norma Plummer so much that she publicly criticised her team post match. The Steel were strong everywhere in their win over the Tactix as shooter Jhaniele Fowler shot a whopping 65 goals. This game shapes as one between two evenly matched sides, but Plummer's team won’t want to put in such a poor performance for the second week running. Fever by 4

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Thanks to Phil Walter/Getty Images AsiaPac for use of the photo