Netball: Otago atop pool after 2 good wins

Deb Tasi-Cordtz.
Deb Tasi-Cordtz.
Dunedin made a perfect start to the national championships in Wellington yesterday.

It beat Wanganui 73-41 and Hawkes Bay 59-37 to sit atop pool B with North Harbour after the first day of action.

With games against Hutt Valley and North Harbour to play today, Dunedin is on track to finish in the top two and reach the quarterfinals.

Dunedin coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz used her full squad to dismantle Wanganui in the team's competition opener.

Her side jumped out to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter on the back of some sharp shooting from starting goal shoo t Jennifer O'Connell, who landed 32 of her 37 attempts on goal.

Good shooting was a theme throughout the match, as goal attack Jamie Hume (six from eight), Bridget Thayer (23 from 28) and Sophie Erwood (13 from 16) all shone.

''We got off to a really solid start,'' Tasi-Cordtz said.

''We just kept the changes coming and we kept hitting them each quarter with a different combination.

''It was a real big team unit today. Someone tipped the ball and there were two of us there to pick it up. The team unity was nice.''

Dunedin led 37-19 at halftime, before extending the lead to 53-29 at three-quarter time.

Tasi-Cordtz started captain Hapai Selby-Law at centre, Sophie Napper at wing defence and Rachel Horrocks at wing attack.

Abby Erwood and Tessa Bekkers started at the defensive end.

The match against Hawkes Bay was a more physical encounter, with Dunedin only leading by two after the first quarter.

But the 2012-13 champion pulled away over the next three quarters to go two from two.

O'Connell was again the pick of the shooters, slotting 41 of her 47 attempts in the match.

Dunedin plays Hutt Valley at 2.30pm and North Harbour, which is also undefeated, at 8pm today.

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