Another thriller on the way

MORE OF THE SAME: Whangara shooter Sandee Porter can expect more close marking in the netball final against High School Old Girls tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

JUST two goals separated the finalists in Gisborne’s premier netball championship last time they met this season and Whangara Old Girls and High School Old Girls can be relied upon to repeat that performance tomorrow.

They meet at the YMCA at 1pm tomorrow and, due to the Alert Level 2 restrictions, the final for the Jan Duncan Memorial Trophy will be played without spectators.

It will be live-streamed again on the Gisborne Netball Centre’s Facebook page.

“Finals playoffs, instead of points-based results, were introduced in 2003 and both of these teams have had history of being GNC finalists,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“This will be Whangara’s 16th final; F45 High School Old Girls have been there seven times before.”

The teams have played each other for Gisborne’s top netball trophy five times.

“The last time they met in the final was in 2019, when HSOG took the win, and the Jan Duncan Memorial Trophy, with a score of 53-45,” Beale said.

“Some of today’s players, in both teams, were playing in that final.”

Last time they met this season was just before lockdown and HSOG sneaked through 41-39.

“That game was a clash of the defenders,” Beale said.

“We had High School Old Girls’ Kelly Wood and Alex Sinclair and Whangara’s Materoa Poi and Tania Adamson all collecting some impressive turnovers.

“I expect those four to feature in this final, but the other factor will be the team connections through the court and into the shooting circle.”

“I am expecting another close, competitive game to finish our 2021 season.”

Whangara coach Ronnie Martin echoed those thoughts.

“I expect this will be a hard-fought, woman-on-woman style of game, and the players will need to be alert to everything that’s going on,” Martin said.

“This game will be just as hard as the games were on Wednesday night.

“Everyone’s on fire and ready to go.

“We’ll have to deliver what I’m sure High School Old Girls will put on us.”

HSOG captain and coach Alex Sinclair said the short recovery time between Wednesday night’s semis and the final would make it tough for both teams.

“Hopefully the players from both teams have taken good care of their bodies between games, and got plenty of rest.

Sinclair expects another nail-biter.

“I think it will turn out to be another game like the matches both teams played on Wednesday night.”

HSOG beat Claydens Waikohu (1) by a goal, and Whangara beat YMP Sunshine Brewery, also by one goal.

“To beat Whangara we will need to keep our composure under pressure, treasure our ball, and look after ourselves as a team,” Sinclair said. “It feels just so good to be playing in the final.

“It’s been a hard season for our team but we’re there, and I’m very proud of the girls.”

Across the road at Victoria Domain all of the other grades will play their final games over two rounds — 9am and 11am.

Those matches are previewed below.

No spectators will be allowed.