2015 ANZ Championships – Round 1

2015 ANZ Championships – Round 1

He’s back! With the 2015 ANZ Championship season opener fast approaching, Ben Carbonaro returns to give us the good oil for the opening weekend of fixtures, with three recommended bets to kick off the year.

Previous Results of Ben’s tips

2014: 34 units bet, gross return of 37.95 units, net profit of 3.95 units, Profit on Turnover (PoT) = 12%

2012-2014: 93 units bet, gross return of 105.54 units, net profit of 12.54 units, Profit on Turnover (PoT) = 13%

 

Round 1 Tips (please note: all times are the local time for the home side)

Saturday February 28, 1:48 PM Thunderbirds v Magic

Bookmakers’ line: Thunderbrds -2.5 to -3.5

Ben says: Last season was disappointing for the Thunderbirds, an eight place finish was their worst finish in competition history. Interestingly, they won five games last year and did the same when they finished sixth back in 2011. The Magic were the sole New Zealand to make the finals last year, finishing fourth and won a thrilling semi-final by a single over the NSW Swifts only to just go down by four goals against Grand Finalists Queensland Firebirds. The Thunderbirds are always extremely hard to beat at home at Netball SA Stadium and are backed by a passionate crowd who know their netball, it will definitely help coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson and her team to open season 2015 with a win. The big news to come out of the Thunderbirds camp was shooter Carla Borrego finally gaining her Australia citizenship and news for the Magic is defender and captain Casey Kopua missing round one as she continues to recover from a knee injury sustained while playing for New Zealand’s Silver Ferns last year. Thunderbirds by 7

Recommended bet: 1 unit on Thunderbirds -2.5 at $1.90 (Centrebet)

 

Sunday March 1, 11:18 AM Firebirds v Fever

Bookmakers’ line: Firebirds -7.5 to -8.5

Ben says: The Firebirds are coming off a Grand Final loss where they were more than competitive for the first three quarters, only to falter in the last quarter as Vixens went on to taste premiership success. Fever impressed during the recent pre-season tournament in Sydney as they finished as the only undefeated team, but form there can sometimes be hard to read as teams don’t always field full strength line ups. What the Fever need to do to continue such form and be consistent is win games away from Perth on the road. Firebirds by 5

Recommended bet: 1 unit on Fever +8.5 at $1.90 (Centrebet)

 

Sunday March 1, 2:18 PM Vixens v Pulse

Bookmakers’ line: Vixens -8.5 to -9.5

Ben says: The premiers commence their premiership defence at a new venue in Margaret Court Area, a new boutique venue for sport in Melbourne. Vixens go into this game having won each of the seven previous encounters against the Pulse; the Pulse have yet to win a game in Australia. Vixens by 8

Recommended bet: Nil

 

Sunday March 1, 7:10 PM Steel v Swifts

Bookmakers’ line: Steel +3.5 to +4.5

Ben says: Swifts finished third during the home and away season last year, winning a minor semi-final contest against Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic. It was a dramatic final quarter turnaround from the Magic that saw Swifts lose by a solitary goal. The Steel were one game out of the four behind the Magic and just missed the finals, but will be looking to improve on that in season 2015. The visitors have the upper hand across competition history, having won five of the seven contests but visiting teams can never know what to expect when they travel to New Zealand’s deep south. Steel by 8

Recommended bet: 1 unit on Steel +4.5 at $1.90 (Centrebet)

 

Monday March 2, 7:40 PM Tactix v Mystics

Bookmakers’ line: Tactix +3.5 to +4.5

Ben says: This is a very rare occasions where the Tactix could almost be viewed as favourites heading into the game and this is despite taking over the competition’s easy beats tag after Central Pulse just missed out playing finals netball last year. The Mystics chances hinged on whether or not shooter Cathrine Latu will play, with an injury cloud currently hanging over her. Following on from her consistent season last year, Tactix shooter Mwai Kumwenda will be looking to open the season in the same fashion. For the Mystics, it will be the first time English midcourter Serena Guthrie is on show for many netball fans. Mystics by 3

Recommended bet: Nil