Last semi-final spot nabbed

Southbridge A goal attack Tracey Stone is guarded by Lincoln A goal keep Isla McKillop as Megan Perhouse and Janie Watkins look for position. Photo: Karen Casey.

Lincoln A centre Madeleine Walker, right, beats her Southbridge opposite Beth Williamson to the ball. Photo: Karen Casey.

Lincoln A goal defence Janie Watkins, left and Southbridge A wing attack Ash Bowater both keep the ball in their sights. Photo: Karen Casey.

Southbridge A goal defence Kath Cochrane leaps in front of Lincoln A's Shannon Corbett. Photo: Karen Casey.

Lincoln A goal attack Shannon Corbett lets the ball slip through her grasp. Photo: Karen Casey.

Lincoln A's Madeline Walker grabs the ball before Southbridge A's wing defence Beth Williamson during Lincoln's 71-37 Selwyn premier netball win at Lincoln Events Centre, on Saturday. Photo: Karen Casey.

Lincoln A claimed the final semi-final spot in the Selwyn premier netball competition and will now face top-qualifiers Broadfield A for a place in the final this weekend.

Lincoln A beat Southbridge A 71-37 in the winner-take-all contest at the Lincoln Event Centre on Saturday.

In other matches, Greenpark A eased past Greenpark B 50-36. They will play each other again in the other semi-final on Saturday.

Broadfield A confirmed their top spot with a comfortable 74-25 win over cellar-dwellers Prebbleton A.

Lincoln A coach Dawn Dalley is delighted her small squad of eight have made the final four, but was surprised with the ease of the win over Southbridge.

“The shooter that drove their attack end wasn’t there but we got off to a fast start and we built on it,” she said.

“When we have pushed the top teams, we’ve done it with a fast start, so we’ll need that against Broadfield on Saturday.

“The fact we had a good win against Southbridge and we’ve pushed the three other teams at times this year shows we can do it if we play well enough.”

Greenpark B will have to be at their best against their clubmates in the semi.

“We have a mental block with Greenpark A in the fact that they are the only team we haven’t beaten all year,” Greenpark B player/coach Mechelle Barltrop said.

“Some of the girls may be struggling with self-belief that they can beat them.”

Greenpark B and Lincoln A are pondering training together on Thursday ahead of their respective semi-finals.

Greenpark A netball coach Zaylie Sullivan said she will not be taking her club’s B team lightly, in spite of beating them three times this year.

Broadfield A netball coach Yvonne Crichton-Hill said she was happy with how her team played against Prebbleton A, as she gave all 11 squad members time on court.

She said after losing the final to Greenpark A last year when they were favourites, she is not taking anything for granted against a Lincoln A team with strong combinations but a limited bench.

Results: Broadfield A 74, Prebbleton A 25, Greenpark A 50, Greenpark B 36; Lincoln A 71, Southbridge A 37.

Points: Broadfield A 18, Greenpark A 16, Greenpark B 12, Lincoln A 8, Southbridge A 6, Prebbleton A 1.

Semi-finals: (Lincoln Event Centre) Greenpark A v Greenpark B, Broadfield A v Lincoln A.