2015 ANZ Championships – Finals Week 1

Filed in Other by on June 5, 2015

The weekend of finals fixtures is yet to be fully settled, so Ben Carbonaro will supply us his tips as events unfold.

 

Australian Conference Elimination Final- NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever
It’s a history making first ever finals appearance for the West Coast Fever tonight, who were the early season pace setters before a bit of a drop in the second half of this season before getting things back on track. The NSW Swifts started the season indifferently before finding form at the business end when finals spots were determined. It’s a case of the second time in as many weeks after these two teams faced each other in the final home and away round with Swifts getting 63-56 last Saturday, while back in round four it was a 59 goals each draw in Sydney. Fever goal shooter Caitlin Bassett averaged 43.3 goals per game during the home and away season, so if the Swifts can restrict her impact they will progress through to Sunday’s Australian Conference Final against Queensland Firebirds on Sunday. Swifts by 5

New Zealand Conference Elimination Final-  Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic v Southern Steel

While finals netball is usually a while new ball game with home and away season results counting for little, the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic will no doubt draw confidence from the fact that they lead 15-5 in 17 previous games against the Steel including a 59-53 win back in round in Hamilton. While the Steel won just three games during the home and away season, they had the best attacking record scoring 58.38 goals per game yet conceded 59.62 per game that placed them second last in defence across the competition. Both teams are littered with quality players across the court including Grace Rasmussen in the midcourt for Magic and for the Steel, Phoenix Karaka in defence will have to work hard against Magic’s English international shooter Jo Harten. Magic by 8

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  1. Cliff Bingham says:
    June 7, 2015 at 4:58 am

    Ben’s tips for the conference finals are as per below:

    Sunday 7th June 2015
    Australian Conference Final- Queensland Firebirds v NSW Swifts

    The NSW Swifts won through to this afternoon’s Australian Conference Final after defeating West Coast Fever 60-53 in the Australian Elimination Final on Friday night, while Queensland Firebirds booked their finals spot by finishing on top of the Australian Conference after the home and away rounds were completed. These two teams clashed twice during the home and away season in Brisbane with the most recent being when the Firebirds came away 51-47 victors in round five. What counts for the Firebirds here is that they have never been beaten in a home final and for the Swifts, Friday night’s win was their first finals win since they tasted ANZ Championship premiership success back in 2008. While what happens during the home and away season is usually irrelevant come finals time, it’s simply too hard to ignore the fact that the Firebirds have five of their eight finals appearances with a 73 per cent success rate. For the Swifts, their shooting accuracy will have to continue so having scored 806 goals at 87.4 per cent accuracy only ahead of the Fever ay 87.1 per cent.

    Firebirds by 6

    Monday 8th June 2015
    New Zealand Conference Final- Northern Mystics v Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic

    Northern Mystics are hosting the New Zealand Conference Final after finishing atop the New Zealand conference after the home and away season. The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic are through to this game after a 71-69 extra time over the Southern Steel in New Zealand Conference Elimination Final yesterday. Mystics have been the New Zealand based team to beat in this year’s ANZ Championship season and will continue to be with a win over the Magic tomorrow night.

    Mystics by 7

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