Expectations can be a terrible burden.
Otago began the national championship campaign with the belief it could win all of its top-six round-robin games.
But with two rounds remaining, the province is yet to register a win and must face the reality it may have to survive a promotion-relegation game to remain in the top tier.
The 53-47 loss to Wellington in Porirua yesterday has left Otago's campaign in tatters.
The team is in fifth place, with three points from three games, but can still nab a spot in the semifinals if it beats Canterbury in Dunedin next weekend and Bay of Plenty in its last round-robin game. It will also need other results to go its way.
Based on current form, Otago is unlikely to upset Canterbury and, arguably, does not deserve a shot at the title.
With so many players committed elsewhere, Otago had no pre-season to speak of and has struggled to gel.
The much-vaunted midcourt has not fired. Performances have been patchy and the team has been vulnerable under pressure. It surrendered a nine-goal lead in the draw against Waikato in the opening round.
Coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz was at a loss to explain why her side has not been able to produce better netball.
"I feel like I'm sounding like a broken record," Tasi-Cordtz said.
"It is the same old personal errors, a lack of discipline and a lack of consistency. When we let the ball go and stuck to our game plan, we looked amazing. But we let them come back at us."
Otago trailed Wellington 22-20 at halftime but a dreadful third quarter proved costly.
Otago was outscored 17-10 and went into the last period needing to find 10 more goals than its opponents to win the game.
"We just couldn't get the ball through to Te Paea [Selby-Rickit].
"The connections are certainly there. It is just a couple of bad passes, a stepping, an off-side, or they would get a roll and we'd be down again."
Selby-Rickit shot well, landing 38 of her 43 attempts. Kate Shearer scored six from six and Greir Campbell three from five.
In other games, Canterbury beat Waikato 50-47 and Auckland Waitakere beat Bay of Plenty 51-48. Both sides remain unbeaten.
