The race for the third spot in the Christchurch Netball Centre’s premier club play-offs remains a tight tussle with the business end of the season looming.

Kereru and Technical look assured a place in the finals series after both netting wins in the championship round at Bishopdale YMCA last night, but who will join them is a three-way race between Saints, Lincoln University and St Nicholas.

Saints suffered a hefty defeat at the hands of the defending champion Kereru, going down 37-68, but coach Sharon French believes her side remains on track with must-win games over the next two weeks.

“Every game is a big game but yes, we’re definitely eyeing the next two weeks as very important games,” she said.  “I think Lincoln University, St Nicholas and us are all very much after that third spot.”

They meet St Nicholas next week before taking on Lincoln University to determine which side goes through to the play-offs starting on August 22.

“It’s going to take two really good performances from us and just getting our processes right,” she said.  “We’ve did that at times (against Kereru) but they’re a good side and we didn’t have that consistency.”

They had little answer to the speed and accuracy of Kereru who remain unbeaten this season – the defending champions leading by 10 goals at the first break.

Not even an unexpected dimming of stadium lights stopped the flow of goals from Kereru despite the best efforts of Saints defenders who worked tirelessly.

Meanwhile, Lincoln University were forced to dig deep to beat Halswell 71-45 and keep their play-off hopes alive.

They led by just one goal at quarter time but a surge late in the second spell gave them a 10-goal buffer at the main break.

Experienced attacker Kate Grant has been a key cog in recent weeks as coach Peter McInnes has been forced to re-jig his line-up.  Lincoln University was without shooter Ellie Bird, who was a training partner at the Silver Ferns trials, but both national under-21 players Charlotte Elley and Kate Lloyd were back in action.

Grant stepped back into the shooting circle to miss just one of her 22 attempts at goal and teamed well with Bella James.

Technical dominated the second and third quarters to ensure a convincing 61-40 win over St Nicholas.

The defensive efforts through court again impressed for Technical as they smothered any attacking flow from their opponents allowing them just 20 attempts at goal during 30 minutes of play.

Wing defence Nicole Witterick picked up plenty of ball for her side while Louise Thayer and Lily Marshall are proving a formidable combination in the circle.

Technical led 34-19 at the main break and by 22 goals with just 15 minutes to play.  But St Nicholas rallied in the final stanza to win the spell by one goal with defenders Leigh Hurford and Emily Mabin both pushing hard until the last whistles.

Results:

Kereru 68 (Julianna Naoupu GS 38/46, Claudia Lewis GA1 18/24, Tyler Rollo GA2 12/19) beat Saints 37 (Danielle Kerwin GS 17/23, Taylor Rosie-Forrester GA 20/33).  Quarter scores:  18-8, 34-18, 52-27, 68-37.

Lincoln University 71 (Bella James GS1 33/36, Kate Grant GA1 21/22, Natalie Allen GS2 6/7, James GA2 11/12) beat Halswell 45 (Alexandra Doig GS1 14/21, Nicole Meikle GA1 17/20, Jessica Cottam GS2 14/18, Samaria Thompson GA2 0/1).  Quarter scores:  15-14, 34-24, 54-35, 71-45.

Technical 61 (Maddy Lloyd GS1 31/43, Gemma Hazeldine GA 28/36, Chelsea Bremner GS2 2/4) beat St Nicholas 40 (Olivia Coughlan GS 26/34, Grace Jones GA 15/18).  Quarter scores:  16-12, 34-19, 49-27, 61-40.