Bounceback victory to Waikohu 1

Waikohu’s Ashleigh Brown is pressured from both sides by Whangara Old Girls players Saffron Eparaima (left) and Taryn Walford in Premier Grade netball at the YMCA on Saturday. A strong last quarter in what had up to then been a tight contest powered Waikohu to a 60-43 triumph. Picture by Liam Clayton

Waikohu (1) put their Wednesday night upset defeat  behind them in the best possible way in Premier Grade netball at the YMCA on Saturday.

The Claydens Waikohu  side — beaten by Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A in a midweek game — turned on a powerful last quarter to beat Whangara Old Girls 60-43.

Top seeds and defending champions Turanga FM YMP kept on keeping on with a 51-38 win over Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A to remain unbeaten in the 2023 Gisborne Pak’nSave competiton.

YMP led through all quarters — 11-7 after 15 minutes, 22-15 at half time, then 37-25 at the third-quarter break.

It was a competitive game, with both teams displaying speedy movement, good positioning and tight, defensive marking that created many tips and intercepts.

The quarter scores — 11/7, 11/8, 15/10 and 14/13 — show how YMP built on their advantage through each quarter to eventually win by 13 goals.

They have a strong bench and made several changes throughout the game without altering the team’s flow.

The No.1 seeds worked in unison, delivering quality ball to their shooters, while on defence, they pressured the ball carrier and pounced on errors or any loose ball.

It is hard to single out players when a team are working as one, but goal defence Bronya McMenamin  combined impressively in the circle with Keasi Fonohema to cause problems for the students’ midcourt to get ball in to their shooters.

Bronya snapped up many intercepts and linked with the attacking end by delivering long passes through the court.

YMP midcourt players Ata Mangu, Anatea Taituha, Maia Rickard and Te Awa Clendon moved on to the ball at speed, sending the ball swiftly through the court, and were always available for back-up passes.

GGHS Snr A had some good passages of play, but at times buckled under YMP’s pressure or chose the wrong option.

The Waikohu-Whangara match was close over three quarters, the scores telling the story —  15-13 (to Waikohu), 27-26, 41-35.

The teams played a similar game — tight woman-on-woman defence, which meant all players had to work on different movements to receive a pass.

There were impressive intercepts from both sides, which excited the crowd and added to the atmosphere as the ball often went up and down the court without a goal being scored.

Waikohu edged ahead near the end of the third quarter through solid defensive team play by Humaria Higgins, Arihia Tuhua and Karen Matiaha, who worked together to pressure Whangara’s ball carrier into making errors and were quick to collect tips and intercepts.

They continued the pressure in the fourth quarter and the turnovers increased.

In the last quarter, attackers Jessica Ruru and Ashleigh Brown were quick to position themselves to collect the turnover ball and shooters Princess Tomoana and Marcia Beale capitalised as Waikohu outscored Whangara 19-8.

Results of other grades (*(bonus point for scoring within 3 goals)  —

Prem Reserve/A Grade: Waikohu P2 37 YMP Masters 36*; Old Girls Whangara 25 The Tav Sportsfit 22*; Horouta Taimana 39  Whalis 27; HSOG 34 FarmCare HSOG 33*; Claydens Waikohu 2 28 Gisborne Girls’ High Senior B 27.

​A Reserve: Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 34 Tyre General Ngatapa 20; YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 36 GGHS Jnr A 29; Campion Snr A 31 ATS OBM Blue 26; YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 30  Campion Snr A 28*.

1st Grade: Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 35 OBM White 10; Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit OG 31 Thistle Storm 25; Claydens Waikohu (4) 34 Horouta Hiriwa 21.

1st Reserve: OBM OG 40 Uawa Nui 31; Whatatutu 28 GGHS Tuakana 27*; Allwood Enterprises HSOG 25 XLR8 16.

2nd Grade: Horouta Kohatu 23 Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 12; Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 37 Gis Glass Ngatapa 27.