Highly-favoured University Albion made heavy weather of securing its place in next Saturday's Dunedin premier club final against top qualifier Southern A.
Uni-Albion started swiftly against College A at the Edgar Centre on Saturday, racking up a 16-7 lead after the first quarter, but then packed up for the day, doing just enough to secure a 50-43 victory.
College was always going to struggle to make up a nine-goal deficit. Luckily for College, Uni-Albion appeared to opt to defend its lead rather than extend it. This cautious approach gave College the opportunity to attack.
College goal shoot Clare Adams created room in her shooting circle for her team-mates to feed her some clean passes. Up against Otago's leading defender Louise Thayer, Adams proved her worth, creating space and shooting accurately. Despite her best efforts, however, Uni-Albion still managed to come out on top in the quarter, extending its lead to 28-18 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Uni-Albion appeared to relax, and College was able to intercept some rather soft passes. College gained the ascendancy and won the quarter 13-10, but still trailed 38-33 going into the final stanza.
With only five goals in it, College looked pumped, but could not quite lift itself for a final push. Uni-Albion seemed content to maintain its strategy of containment and hung on for the win.
In an exciting Premier B match, Phys Ed C defeated Macandrew A 42 -40 and will meet its B side in the final.
