Close midweek tussles in store

LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN: Whangara Old Girls wing defence Saffron Eparaima tries to get in the way of a pass to Gisborne Girls’ High wing attack Natasha Porter. Girls’ High have a chance to get a win on the season’s card against a strong Horouta Koura side tomorrow at the YMCA at 6pm.Picture by Paul Rickard

by Sherrill Beale

Midweek premier netball promises two close games at the YMCA as teams try to avoid the bottom two spots ahead of the challenge round.

At 6pm tomorrow, Horouta Koura take on Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A in what should be a close, competitive game.

Two weeks ago Horouta Koura recorded a close win by working together throughout the court.

However, last Wednesday they struggled with Whangara’s defensive pressure in the second half. The close halftime scoreline blew out, and Horouta Koura suffered their second loss.

Girls’ High Senior A have lost three games from three but will be heartened that their loss against Whangara was close enough to earn them a bonus point.

Also, they were competitive with top-of-the-table YMP Turanga FM for the first half of that game.

Horouta will still be smarting over their loss last week, while the students will have targeted this last game of the round as theirs to win.

In the 7.30pm game, Claydens Waikohu (1) will play Whangara Old Girls (1).

Even though Whangara are ahead of Waikohu on the table, this will be close.

Waikohu will have worked on their errors from last week’s game, where they squandered a six-goal halftime lead to lose by two. They will be determined to win this game and finish the round second on the table.

Whangara will be just as determined to secure that spot.

Their players have been developing a good understanding, and this was shown in the second half last week, when they pulled away from Horouta Koura.

This will be another close game between teams who know each other’s play well.