Hearts’ most cohesive performance as a team unit has yielded key premier netball championship points just weeks from the season’s finals series.
Coach Helen Mahon-Stroud was quick to congratulate her charges after a hard fought 47-41 win over St Nicholas at Pioneer Stadium last night which kept them in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals of Christchurch Netball Centre’s premier league.
“It was a must win match for us,” she said.  “There was a lot of pressure out there but I think the girls respond well to that extra challenge and it showed.”
They will need more of the same for the remaining two rounds if they are to push for a top three spot after losing their first two games of the championship play.
“There is no easy game in this round so it’s really time to lift again and keep going.”
St Nicholas led 16-9 at the first break as they found their main shooting target Olivia Coughlan with ease – the shooter netting 15 of her team’s first quarter goals.
Mahon-Stroud said it forced a change in tactics, particularly on defence, as Hearts set about disrupting St Nicholas’ flow before it reached the shooting circle.
Goal defence Claire Morris proved effective in hunting for ball outside of the circle and putting plenty of pressure over the final pass to Coughlan.
Hearts slashed the difference to just three goals by halftime and with 15 minutes to play had turned the tables to lead by the same margin.
Their strength off the bench was also highlighted when captain Kiley Hikawai left the court after taking a hard knock to the head late in the third spell.  Hearts barely missed a beat as shooter Alice Eddington returned to the fray and helped her side to the win.
Meanwhile, a decisive third quarter from Kereru against Technical helped it keeps its unblemished record in the championship round with a 53-48 win.
The two unbeaten teams were locked 13-13 at the first break and Kereru had edged ahead by three at halftime.
But their suffocating defensive effort in the third quarter was enough to give them an eight goal advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Technical coach Andrea Cousins went to the bench to mount another attack on the scoreboard with captain Tiana Placid moving from her regular goal attack role into the defensive circle and a completely new shooting line.
They rallied to win the final quarter by three goals but ran out of time to register their first loss of the championship round.
A moments silence was held prior to the late game between Halswell and Lincoln University in recognition of Halswell Netball Club’s Life Member Hazel Legg who passed away this week.  The Halswell side also wore black armbands for the match.
Lincoln University started strongly but were unable to fully shake a determined Halswell side leading 14-6 at quarter time.
They took control however in the second quarter, winning the spell 22-8, on the back of a strong defensive effort throughout the court led by Tactix midcourter Hayley Saunders who was making a rare appearance for the university side.
Consistency was then key for Lincoln University who netted more than 20 goals in the last three quarters to fall just short of an impressive 80 goals in a decisive 78-30 win.
Results:
Hearts 47 (Alice Eddington GS1 13/21, Kiley Hikawai GA1 12/16, Anna Thompson GS2 17/25, Thompson GA2 5/7) beat St Nicholas 41 (Olivia Coughlan GS 34/40, Angela Williams GA1 1/6, Sophia Fenwick GA2 6/9).  Quarter scores:  9-16, 20-23, 34-31, 47-41.
Kereru 53 (Vicky McSherry GS1 6/8, Julianna Naoupu GA1 23/25, Naoupu GS2 17/19, Samaria Thompson GA2 7/12) beat Technical 48 (Brooke Parker GS1 17/26, Tiana Placid GA1 18/22, Chelsea Bremner GS2 8/10, Gemma Hazeldine GA2 5/8).  Quarter scores:  13-13, 29-26, 43-35, 53-48.
Lincoln University 78 (Elizabeth Hayman GS 49/57, Sarah Hayman GA 29/40) beat Halswell 30 (Jess Taylor GS 17/30, Chrissy Fastier GA1 7/10, Kate Howden GA2 6/6).  Quarter scores:  14-6, 36-14, 58-20, 78-30