2013 ANZ Championships – Round 5 Tips

Round 5 of the ANZ Championships is headlined by the opening game of the weekend, where the 3-1 Adelaide Thunderbirds host the undefeated Melbourne Vixens. With the fine early season punting form of Ben Carbonaro once again on display this season, he re-joins us to give his preview of the upcoming weekend.

Results for Round 4 tips

Round 4: 2 units bet, 1 winner, return of 1.87 units

2013 total: 9 units bet, 6 winners, return of 11.18 units (24% 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 5 of the 2013 ANZ Championships:

 

Round 5 Tips (please note: all times are the local time for the home side)

 

Sunday April 21, 11:40 AM Adelaide Thunderbirds v Melbourne Vixens

Thunderbirds:  3-1 (third on ladder), 2-0 home

Vixens:  3-0 (second on ladder), 1-0 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  The Thunderbirds finally found their grove with a win at home and captain Natalie von Bertouch publicly said that they are now a much better side than the one that lost to the Vixens by 14 goals in round two. The Vixens are one of only two undefeated sides in the competition and fresh coming off a bye. Led by captain Bianca Chatfield in defence, the Vixens have not showed any signs of dropping their dominant form line. Vixens by 6

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday April 21, 12:20 PM West Coast Fever v NSW Swifts

Fever:  2-2 (sixth on ladder), 2-0 home

Swifts:  1-3 (eighth on ladder), 0-2 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  After a huge confidence boosting win the previous week, the Fever were outclassed by a Thunderbirds team that finally found their grove at home last Sunday. Despite the loss, Fever has the cattle and game plan to combat a Swifts team reeling after three straight losses. An inability to play consistent netball across a four quarters and giving away too much ball have cost the Swifts. Fever by 3

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Sunday April 21, 7:20 PM Northern Mystics v Central Pulse

Mystics:  0-4 (tenth on ladder), 0-2 home

Pulse:  2-2 (fifth on ladder), 0-1 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  The Mystics went down to the Tactix in one of the games of the season in a double overtime thriller and are still trying to find form after losing key players. While they were able to fight back against the Tactix and almost snatch victory, it will be tougher against a Pulse team just outside the four only on percentage. Pulse by 5

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Monday April 22, 7:40 PM Waikato/BOP Magic v Canterbury Tactix

Magic:  2-1 (fourth on ladder), 1-0 home

Tactix:  1-3 (ninth on ladder), 0-1 away

Bookmakers’ line:  TBC

Ben says:  Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic’s previous game before last week's bye created a fair amount of controversy in New Zealand after goal shooter Irene van Dyk's called West Coast Fever’s defenders “dirty”. With that now in the memory bank, the Magic return to court after a bye against a Tactix team full of confidence after a thrilling double overtime win. While the Tactix won last week, they will not be good enough to beat the Magic. Magic by 15

Recommended bet:   TBC

 

Bye week:  Queensland Firebirds, Southern Steel

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