The courts at Gisborne Girls High School were alive with exciting netball action on Saturday when the season opened there for the seniors, secondary and intermediate grades. Photo / Murray Robertson
The courts at Gisborne Girls High School were alive with exciting netball action on Saturday when the season opened there for the seniors, secondary and intermediate grades. Photo / Murray Robertson
High School Old Girls marked their return to Gisborne’s netball premier grade with a statement win, edging out last year’s runners-up, YMP, by four goals in a tightly contested opener at the YMCA on Saturday.
It was one of several close results across all grades in the Pak’nSave Netball Competitionseason-opening round.
Taste One HSOG trailed their Tūranga FM YMP 1 opponents until the final quarter — 11-14, 25-26, 37-39 — before finishing strongly to claim a 53-49 victory. YMP earned a bonus point for finishing within five goals.
“This was a close game that could have gone either way,” said netball commentator Sherrill Beale.
“YMP led all the way until halfway through the last quarter when HSOG took the lead for the first time and managed to hold on to it till the end of the game.
“Both teams’ players worked together on attack, opening up the court by moving the ball speedily through to their shooters, and also on defence by pressuring their opposition at every opportunity, trying to get the upper hand,” Beale said.
“There were some very impressive intercepts, especially by Alex Sinclair, HSOG’s defender, and Bronya McMenamin, YMP’s defender.”
YMP defender Bonya McMenamin was again a standout for her side. Photo / Paul Rickard
Horouta Gold defeated Old Girls Whangārā 65-36 in the other premier game at the YMCA.
Horouta led throughout - 14/7, 31/18, 47/26, 65/36.
“Horouta Gold started strongly at the first whistle with all players moving themselves and the ball speedily through the court,” she said/.
“They gave a good display of the invisible links in netball, by showing great timing to pop out and collect the pass and deliver it on at speed.
“OG Whangārā tried various positional changes and, at times, moved the ball well, but Horouta Gold were determined to win this game convincingly and didn’t give them many chances.”
The senior, secondary, and intermediate teams returned to the Girls’ High courts, where parking was at a premium, but the location provided the right temporary home for the day’s action.
Uawa’s Tammy Thompson sinks a goal during her 1st Grade side’s clash with Tūranga Pirates Manawa, who edged out Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 29–25. Photo / Murray Robertson
Other results (* Bonus point – score within 3 goals for senior, secondary, and intermediate grade.) -
The Girls High courts will remain the base for play, apart from the premiers who are in the YMCA, until the new Victoria Domain courts are ready. Photo / Murray Robertson
A Grade: Manutuke 27 Tyre General Ngatapa 11, Tawatapu Ora HSOG 34 Whalis 27, Waikohu 2 23 Pioneer The Tav 21*.
A Reserve: GGHS Jnr A 41 Kapiana A 8, Allwood Enterprises HSOG 42 Enterprise Motors OBM 14, Sportsfit 2 25 GGHS Snr B 17.
Gisborne Girls’ High School ran a canteen to keep players and supporters fuelled throughout the day. Photo / Murray Robertson
