Live stream: Cavaliers, Hawks have ‘healthy’ rivalry as Tasmanian Netball League enters finals time

They were rep teammates last weekend, now players from the TNL’s top two teams are rivals once again as a grand final spot goes on the line. Watch three games LIVE on Saturday from 4pm.

There will be no love lost for an hour when they battle for a grand final spot on Saturday, but Cavaliers coach Katie O’Neill only needs to glance into the stands to know the importance of their TNL rivalry with Hawks.

Some of the Hawks and Cavs players were teammates in Tassie Wild’s exhibition game against the Melbourne Mavericks reserves before last week’s Super Netball clash in Hobart.

Friends will become foes on Saturday in the qualifying final Launceston derby at the Silverdome, with the first spot in the decider the prize.

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The Launceston teams have long been the TNL’s benchmark teams. The Hawks are shooting for a third straight premiership after beating the Cavs in last year’s grand final.

“You have it in all sports, but it’s a really good and healthy rivalry,” O’Neill said.

“The thing I love about it is in state league netball you (normally) have the support staff and, maybe, a few people in the crowd, but you get a Hawks-Cavs game and the Silverdome’s packed and the atmosphere is so good.

“It’s a shame we don’t get that type of support every week in a State League game.”

The Cavs became the only team to beat the Hawks last year when they toppled them in last year’s major semifinal.

Cavaliers wing attack Shelby Miller. Picture: Patrick Gee

The Hawks came from behind to win by a goal in the team’s most recent clash three weeks ago. The Cavs also lost to third-placed Cripps the following week, but O’Neill is confident of pressing Hawks hard again with a full squad now at her disposal.

Young defender Lily Case will play her first full game in her return from an ongoing ankle issue, which ruled her out for a number of games, while midcourter and co-captain Keely Atkinson also missed the Hawks and Cripps clashes.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge, especially coming off such a close game against them last time,” O’Neill said.

“The first game (against Hawks this year) we lost by 19, so to only lose by a goal in the last game gives us a lot of confidence.

“Knowing we’re actually going into this weekend with a full team is a bonus. We haven’t had a full team for quite some weeks now, and now we’ve got a full contingent to choose from in the starting seven with a lot of depth on the bench.”

O’Neill said the full availability of Case to partner alongside fellow young defender Paige O’Neill is timely given the huge threat posed by Hawks shooters Ash Mawer, Kendall Jones and Courtney Treloar.

“We’ve got height and elevation back there with Paige, but Lily is a head taller, so to have two talls to cover that space is handy,” O’Neill said.

“Kendall, Courtney and Ash don’t miss a lot of goals, so the goals they do miss we have to make sure we capitalise on and get those rebounds.”

The Northern Hawks celebrate last year’s TNL grand final win.

The Cavs players had the opportunity to be coached by Diamonds mentor Stacey Marinkovich last week, while Marinkovich also sat on the bench for the Wild’s clash with the Mavericks reserves.

“I did say to Paige you’re high fiving Ash Mawer for getting goals (for Wild), but next weekend you’ll be saying ‘please miss them’,” O’Neill said.

“Those girls are mature and experienced enough that when you’re in that space you work with one another, and the next week you’re back to your own clubs and it’s game on.”

The Cavs haven’t played since a 98-23 win over Karana on Sunday, June 23, but have got match practice by playing members of the state men’s squad on Monday night.

The under-19 major semi, also between the Cavs and Hawks, will be played at the Silverdome on Monday night instead of Saturday due to national representative camp commitments affecting both teams.