Bullock out to set record straight in final | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Monday night's Wanganui premier netball final is all about righting what Tasha Bullock sees as a massive disappointment.

Bullock's made separate comebacks to Wanganui premier netball after the arrivals of each of her three children.

Was there ever any doubt about the third?

"No, no doubt at all. I was always going to come back - I wasn't happy with third place last year."

That third was the first time in goal attack Bullock's Marist career that the side had missed the final.

"It was absolutely disappointing and devastating, so I was always going to come back and try to help rectify what happened," Bullock said.

Marist meets defending champion Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau at 7.30pm at Springvale tonight in a match which took on extra bite when Kaierau walloped an over-confident Marist by 10 goals last time the two met.

And that result certainly stung Marist - although they had to battle mightily to get past Wanganui High School to take the semi by one goal.

Bullock: "Vanda [longtime coach Butters] said it was one of the worst performances by a Marist side for a long time. I think the thing about it was that no-one turned up to play that night.

"Usually you have an end that will play well and an end that won't.

"I think it was a huge mental blow, but we were always going to come back - we never give up."

Bullock should know. She's had her eye on Marist's abilities before she even played for the side way back in the late 1990s - when Marist could handle itself again most opposition from other areas.

"I remember as a schoolgirl, when I was playing for Wanganui High School myself, going down to the netball courts and watching Marist play - I was always fascinated with them and how awesome they were.

"It was a different calibre of player back then and I was just mesmerised by them. That's when they formed most of the Wanganui side and made A grade at the national championships."

She vowed to play for Marist, but detoured there via Pirates in 1997.

"We lost heavily to Marist and I thought, 'If I want to be like them, I have to be with them'."

She swapped clubs and started with the Marist A2s, "an awesome side", then sat on the bench the following year and watched the likes of Davina Cooper, Lisa Murphy, Cindy Hoskin, Robin Simes, Wendy King and Sue Howard play ahead of her - but she watched to learn.

Soon though she was able to start the attack end partnership with Murphy which exists to this day - although it was bettered by Kaierau's defenders Kristin Ashworth and Marie Kinloch in that last game.

The pair now have an instinctive knowledge of where the other is. Bullock's "no-look" passes to Murphy under the hoop are a trademark.

But Bullock says it's not all roses when a game's in action. She says she and Murphy have no compunction in telling the other where they should be or what should have happened - then they're the best of friends off the court.

That certainly works.

But tonight?

Kaierau's defenders certainly pose a threat.

"They've got a very nuggetty defensive end and I think they've improved so much through the season," Bullock says. "And their attacking end is quick and sharp - and Jackie [Abraham] is a big figure at goal shoot. Their shooting through Jackie and Rachael [Lynch] has been tops so far."

But Bullock's summation?

"That game a few weeks ago wasn't our best. If that was our best we could play and [we] still lost by that score, then I would be worried.

"We know we have a job in front of us, but we have no doubts - we are going to win."