“Whangara started strongly and were seven goals up before the students scored,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.
“The whole team worked together throughout the court, on attack passing into space for their teammates to run on to, and on defence shadowing the ball carrier to create turnovers.
“They seemed to have a sixth sense of where their teammates were on court. Several times the ball was going out of court or not controlled but was flicked in for someone backing up to collect.”
Beale said the students had some good passages of play where they moved the ball speedily and effortlessly down the court in to their shooters, but Whangara were in control.
In the other match, YMP Sunshine Brewery beat Horouta Gold 57-41. They, too, were in control throughout, up 17-11 after 15 minutes, then 31-22 at halftime and 42-30 at three-quartertime.
“YMP worked as a team on attack and defence and added a few more goals than Horouta at each quarter, “ Beale said.
“They varied their attack by using speedy movement and passes and then slowing it down and working the ball in to their shooters.”
Beale said YMP were tight on defence, were quick to the loose ball and created turnovers as Horouta worked the ball around.
Beale said Horouta worked hard and made changes, and there were passages where they won turnovers.
“But there weren’t enough of those passages for them to take the lead,” she said.
“Horouta Gold shooter Ashlee Maka had a strong game. She moved around the goal circle well, giving her feeders options and then slotting some great goals.”
