Celebrations come first for a Technical side embarking on unknown territory after they earned the right to challenge for club netball’s premier crown.

Coach Andrea Cousins felt a mixture of pride and relief after her charges beat defending champions Lincoln University 41-36 in the semi-final at Bishopdale YMCA on Tuesday night.

Technical will now play Kereru in the Christchurch Netball Centre grand final on August 30 where they will have to halt their opponents unbeaten run this season if they are to win the title for the first time.

Cousins – who will take Technical into the final for the first time during her six-year reign as coach – said they would take time to celebrate their hard-fought semi-final victory before turning their focus to Kereru.

“I’m so proud of the girls to have made this step up,” she said.  “We’ve been so close in recent years so to make that final is pleasing.  To be honest I would have been gutted if we’d missed it because the girls have just worked so hard to put a good game out there.”

It was a major turnaround for Technical after being humbled by Kereru just seven days earlier and they looked like romping into the final having grabbed the initiative over Lincoln University from the outset.

But Lincoln University won the second spell, with experienced players Charlotte Elley and Hayley Saunders urging their team-mates on, and looked to upset Technical’s party plans as they strung seven unanswered goals late in the third quarter to go into the deciding stanza with a two-goal lead.

“Lincoln just kept coming and coming at us and we couldn’t shake them,” Cousins said.  “It could have gone either way going into that last quarter but we just kept our composure and stepped it up when we needed to.”

Cousins was without Tactix mid-courter Nicola Mackle, who continues to manage a knee injury, but hoped to have the wing attack back for the final.

It forced the coach to tweak her frontline with Mahara Feala picking up the wing bib for three quarters and Katelyn Inch in at centre.

But with her side down by two goals, Cousins opted to switch Feala into the more familiar centre role for the fourth stanza with Inch stepping into wing attack for the first time.

“That was the first time we’ve run that line for the season but we just needed that punch that Mahara brings through court and the pair of them pulled it off.”

The injection of Lucy Gunn at goal defence also paid dividends as it allowed experienced Tactix defender Louise Thayer to move back to goal keeper where she picked up a couple of key turnovers.  Goal attack Tiana Placid was another to lift her game in the final 15 minutes as Technical rattled off nine straight goals to give them the winning edge.

“That’s the type of game we need to take through to the final,” Cousins said.  “It’s the first final for us so we’re excited to be there but know we have to bring our game to the court.  I don’t want them to cripple our style again.  We are chuffed to be there but the job isn’t finished yet.”

Meanwhile, Lincoln University B booked a place in the premier 2 final after a convincing 58-39 victory over St Nicholas B.  They now take on Kereru B next week.

Results:

Technical 41 (Chelsea Bremner GS 21/28, Tiana Placid GA 20/25) beat Lincoln University 36 (Natalie Allen GS 9/17, Bella James GA 27/33).  Quarter scores:  13-8, 21-19, 29-31, 41-36.

Lincoln University B 58 (Emma Stiven GS 39/48, Charlotte Robb GA 19/24) beat St Nicholas B 39 (Brooke Parker GS1 23/28, Alison Argus GA1 1/6, Hannah Glassey GS2 2/4, Tiara Esera GA2 13/18).  Quarter scores:  16-8, 30-17, 47-28, 58-39.