Von Bertouch to play on despite injury

THUNDERBIRDS co-captain Nat von Bertouch is adamant she will play in the final minor round with the Canterbury Tactix.

Natalie von Bertouch

THUNDERBIRDS co-captain Nat von Bertouch is adamant she will play in the final minor round with the Canterbury Tactix despite aggravating a finger injury.

 Von Bertouch was forced from the court in the second half of the 17-goal loss to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in Tauranga after receiving a knock to a right hand finger.

But she is confident X-rays will clear her of serious damage and will be available to front the bottom side.

The Thunderbirds dropped to third on the ladder with the loss and will fall another spot if the Melbourne Vixens beat the Central Pulse in New Zealand tonight.

"I'm sure the finger will be fine - I already have a pin in there so I'm not sure what damage I could do," von Bertouch said. "I'm confident there is nothing wrong but I'll have X-rays and make sure. I had the pin inserted five years ago and this is the first knock I have had on the finger since.

"It has probably not moved for five years so to get a bit of a jar, hurt - it stung for a bit. I'm confident I'll be right for the Tactix game. A finger is a finger and you can get by no matter what."

Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson cancelled tonight's court session to allow her squad to recover from the gruelling travel.

The Magic secured their eighth successive win on Saturday to jump to the top of the ladder, although the Northern Mystics regained top spot with a 64-55 victory over the Tactix in Christchurch yesterday. However, the Vixens will be the leader courtesy of superior percentage if triumphant tonight.

The NSW Swifts beat the Southern Steel 55-42 in Sydney yesterday to be level with the Magic, Thunderbirds and Vixens on points.

A game further back is the Queensland Firebirds, who accounted for the West Coast Fever 63-43.