The Netball NSW Waratahs have wrapped up the Australian Netball League minor premiership with one game remaining after defeating second placed Queensland Fusion by 22-goals during Round 5 in South Australia.
Coming into the weekend, the Fusion were sitting at the top of the ANL ladder however consecutive defeats to the Western Sting and the Waratahs dashed their hopes of finishing in top spot.
Despite the defeats and no remaining games this season courtesy of the bye, the Fusion have guaranteed themselves another finals appearance, finishing on 12 points after their eight games, four points ahead of their nearest rivals.
Along with the Waratahs, both the defending champions Victoria Fury and Western Sting claimed back to back victories over the weekend, ensuring that their finals fate remains firmly in their hands with two games remaining for each team.
The Netball NSW Blues hopes of contesting finals for the first time in the league’s short history suffered a setback after going down to the Fury and the Sting – the Blues must now defeat their state rivals the Waratahs in the final round and rely on other results to play finals.
The Canberra Darters finished their 2011 Australian Netball League on a positive note by claiming their first win in their last outing of the season, defeating the Tassie Spirit by seven goals despite trailing at three-quarter time.
Round 5 Results
Victoria Fury (50) defeated Netball NSW Blues (49) Victoria Fury shooting stats Karyn Bailey 26/29 (90%) Kathleen Knott 24/32 (75%) Netball NSW Blues shooting statistics Kimberly Borger 35/41 (85%) Vanessa Mullampy 14/17 (82%)
Western Sting (52) defeated Queensland Fusion (51) Western Sting shooting stats Sarah East 25/26 (96%) Ashleigh Neal 10/12 (83%) Lisa Millman 9/12 (75%) Stacey Northey 8/10 (80%) Queensland Fusion shooting stats Ameliaranne Wells 23/28 (82%) Candice Adams 15/19 (79%) Tiata Baldwin 10/11 (91%) Sophie Croft 3/4 (75%)
Western Sting (50) defeated Netball NSW Blues (39) Western Sting shooting stats Stacey Northey 20/24 (83%) Sarah East 18/19 (95%) Ashleigh Neal 8/13 (62%) Lisa Millman 4/8 (50%) Netball NSW Blues shooting statistics Kimberly Borger 18/23 (78%) Anita Blanco 13/13 (100%) Vanessa Mullampy 5/6 (83%) Amy Sommerville 3/4 (75)
Victoria Fury (57) defeated South Australia (45) Victoria Fury shooting stats Karyn Bailey 35/41 (85%) Kathleen Knott 22/25 (88%) South Australia shooting stats Cody Lange 23/26 (88%) Mel Rowland 19/21 (90%) Laura Marslen 3/4 (75%)
Victoria Fury (50) defeated Netball NSW Blues (49) Victoria Fury shooting stats Karyn Bailey 26/29 (90%) Kathleen Knott 24/32 (75%) Netball NSW Blues shooting statistics Kimberly Borger 35/41 (85%) Vanessa Mullampy 14/17 (82%)
Western Sting (52) defeated Queensland Fusion (51)
Western Sting shooting stats Sarah East 25/26 (96%) Ashleigh Neal 10/12 (83%) Lisa Millman 9/12 (75%) Stacey Northey 8/10 (80%)
Western Sting (50) defeated Netball NSW Blues (39) Western Sting shooting stats Stacey Northey 20/24 (83%) Sarah East 18/19 (95%) Ashleigh Neal 8/13 (62%) Lisa Millman 4/8 (50%)
