Ashburton College will be looking for another big game from Molly Stapleton when they take on United at the EA Networks Centre tonight. Photo Ashburton GuardianTwo local derbies will be the feature of this week’s premier netball competition as all six local teams return home for the first time this season.

The new inter-centre competition featuring teams from Christchurch and North Canterbury has seen one or two teams travel each week, with Celtic still the only team to notch up a win against a non-local team.

They will feature in one of the local derbies this week, taking on Southern A, while the other will be between Ashburton College A and United A.

Momentum is with the Ange Leadley coached Celtic, who are coming off the back of two emphatic wins against Kaiapoi and then the high flying Lincoln University team last week.

They were also successful against Hampstead in their first outing, winning 47-21 in the first week of competition.

With some tough games for the first few weeks of competition, Southern will be looking to build on their combinations and halt the winning streak of last year’s runners-up.

Ashburton College will also be hoping their momentum continues, as they have gone from strength to strength since the beginning of the season.

They will be hoping to make it two from two in their local derby against United A, who remain winless after four weeks.

Methven A and Hampstead A will fly the local flag against Christchurch opponents, taking on St Nicholas and Halswell respectively.

Both teams will be searching for their first wins, particularly the defending champions Methven who last week lost to Ashburton College 44-35, despite a valiant effort to only be behind by two goals heading into the last quarter.

The College team gave St Nicholas a good run for their money in week two of the competition, pushing them all the way in a 46-39 defeat, and Methven will be hoping to produce a full 60 minute performance to also remain competitive.

Hampstead A suffered a tough loss last week against competition front-runners Kereru and it doesn’t get any easier for them this week as they take on Halswell, who have won convincingly against both Methven and Ashburton College in previous rounds.

All of the inter-centre games will take place at the EA Networks Centre starting tonight at 7.30pm.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 11 May 2017