Chasing a record sixth title is not out of the equation but has certainly got a little harder for Central Manawa after being pipped at the post in their latest Synergy Hair Netball League (SHNL) outing.
Despite a strong second half comeback, Manawa couldn’t quite get over the line when falling to defending champions Mainland 60-59 in a game worthy of a final but because of this season’s truncated draw, there will be no opportunity for a re-match.
In a frustrating situation for all involved, the six competing teams get to play each other once, the team with the most wins claiming the title without the prospect of playing in a final.
With two rounds remaining, the unbeaten Mainland are in the box seat on 12 points followed by Manawa on nine after two wins and a bonus point loss. Manawa meet third-placed Waikato Bay of Plenty (eight points) in Hamilton on Saturday, looking to keep building and refining their game while working towards a strong finish to the season.
"Our focus is still going to be to attack right through the court. We’re getting enough ball on defence, it’s just getting those connections and getting them right from the start of the match," Manawa co-captain Jessica Fagan-Pease said.
"Now we just have to really rock in and leave everything out there for every minute because we’ve made it pretty hard for ourselves.
"Having just five games is not ideal and not having a final doesn’t help either. You want to win every game and when there’s a final you’re building towards that while building your core fitness through the season as well, and your best netball is starting to get played more towards the end."
An all-round sportswoman, Fagan-Pease, a robust, energetic and athletic goal/wing defence has come full circle after first playing for Manawa nine years ago as a 17-year-old and cuts an inspiring figure. In between, the Palmerston North product has had a good crack at rugby, is a committed horse rider and leads a busy work life.
Fagan-Pease, 26, played several seasons with the Manawatu Cyclones women’s rugby team before getting called into the Hurricanes Poua Super Rugby squad with injury unfortunately ending that phase.
"I did my sternum and it never quite came right and I didn’t want to be crippled when I was older, so I thought, 'I’ll go back to the game that I love' and after a fill-in season for the Massey club, that was the decision-maker to come fully back into netball," she said.
That was a couple of years ago, returning this year older and wiser to where it all began, and being installed as co-captain.
"It’s great. The environment that has been created since I was last here is so good and the girls are great. (Coaches) Nga (Milner-Olsen) and Cush (Lichtwark) create a really great environment for us and make it really easy for us to play," she said.
"I said to the girls at the start of the season, 'I’m an old girl now' so I’m really here just to help those young ones come through and there’s some really exciting talent coming through, even with our training partners, the schoolgirls. I’m pretty lucky that they’re not allowed to actually play in the league because I don’t know if I’d be in the team if they were."
Originally from Palmerston North, Fagan-Pease now lives in the Wairarapa, enjoying the rural lifestyle and residing in the countryside between Greytown and Martinborough. As well as fitting in her sporting endeavours, she has an equally-busy work life which includes plenty of travel. Fagan-Pease is the North Island’s on-farm business development manager for leading animal food company Purina.
On top of that she is a committed horse rider, putting a halt to that activity recently for the rest of the season after being thrown off by her temperamental steed and wanting to keep her body injury-free. She also does the 2-3-hour round trip to Wellington for trainings and games.
"I’ve got a great boss who has encouraged me to 'go and do my thing'. It’s a short season and with him also being a sportsman, he has encouraged me all the way," she said.