Coach fancies Invercargill’s chances against Tauranga

DEBBIE Munro is looking forward to seeing some oldfashioned Southland grit on the court today.

The Invercargill centre team has made the top eight quarterfinals at the national open championships in Palmerston North.

It will play Tauranga in a quarterfinal this morning, and either a semifinal or a fiftheighth playoff game this afternoon.

‘‘I think if we play like we can play, we’ve got a good chance against Tauranga,’’ coach Munro said.

‘‘There are just a few areas on the court that we have to get on top of and adapt to.’’

Invercargill was beaten 4029 by Counties in its final pool game yesterday but had already secured a spot in the top eight.

It has a few big names on its roster, but the real key to its successful week had been boring old guts and grind, Munro said.

‘‘We’ve just got a really good team unit and they just all give it heaps.

‘‘There are hardy players in there. Grinders — good grinders.’’

Invercargill has no fewer than seven players from the Rata club in its squad.

‘‘So we’ve already got some really strong combinations in there. And there’s flexibility, so it gives a coach headaches when you think about who to put on.’’

Kate Hartley had been a standout all week at wing defence or centre, Munro said, while Abby Erwood was showing all her class and experience at goal defence.

The other quarterfinals are Counties v Christchurch, Auckland v Hamilton and North Harbour v Manawatu.

Dunedin, which has taken more of a development team to the tournament, missed the top eight after being beaten 4823 by Christchurch in its final pool game.

A subsequent 3830 loss to Eastern Waikato yesterday means Dunedin will be playing Gisborne in the 13th16th playoffs today.