Committed Gold defence earns victory reward

MIDCOURT BATTLE: Horouta Gold wing attack Ngahuria Akania knows Whangara Old Girls wing defence Taley-Jade Kemp is close by as she gathers in the ball. Horouta won the Premier Grade netball game 49-41 in the YMCA stadium on Saturday. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOROUTA Gold beat Whangara Old Girls with room to spare for their second win of the Premier Grade points rounds on Saturday in the YMCA.

JT Contracting Horouta Gold won the Pak'nSave premiership clash 49-41 and the quarter scores painted the picture of the game.

Horouta led 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, 29-23 at halftime and 40-32 at the three-quarter mark.

Both teams applied pressure from the start, with many tips, intercepts and turnovers.

Several times they were locked together — 6-all, 9-all, 12-all — and by the break Horouta Gold had sneaked ahead by a sole goal.

The second quarter started in the same vein but halfway through Horouta started to pull ahead as they worked fluently as a team and tightened their defence, especially in the mid-court.

Committed team defence over the ball carrier throughout the court disrupted Whangara's flow and created several turnovers.

Horouta's attack took advantage of these to forge a six-goal lead as they won the second quarter 14-9.

Most pleasing for the side was the way they maintained their intensity and worked as a unit for the full hour.

Whangara made several changes in the game as they battled to get quality ball to their shooters.

Horouta head coach Charnelle Rutene said they were stoked with the win but took away “work-ons”, particularly retaining possession.

Defensive coach Nicky-Marie Kohere-Smiler said it was an outstanding performance.

Led by a player of the game display by Te Aorangi Kemp, they applied pressure on Whangara throughout the court and did the basics well, she said.

She also made mention of their marked improvement at the attacking end.

Whangara coach Ronnie Martin said it was a disappointing result.

“We could have done better than that but you can't get the win if you don't pass the ball to your own player. We turned over too much ball.

“We will have to go back to the drawing board and start all over again, but we look forward to the next round and getting better.”

A highlight for Whangara was the performance of goal attack Nadia Whaitiri-White, who moved and shot well.

OTHER SENIOR RESULTS (* indicates bonus point for scoring within three goals) — Prem Reserve: Farmlands Ngatapa 31 JT Contracting Horouta Taimana 30*, East Coast Log Haulage HSOG 34 YMP 2 15, YMP Masters 31 Old Girls Whangara 25, JT Contractors Horouta Taimana 35 East Coast Log Haulage HSOG 30.

A Grade: FarmCare HSOG 35 Claydens Waikohu (3) 27, Whalis 29 Pharmacy 53 Campion/NUAM 20, Claydens Waikohu (2) 31 Ritana Snr A 14.

A Reserve: Gisborne Girls' High Jnr A 27 YMP Hine Taiohi 23, Enterprise Cars OBM Blue 26 The Tav Sportsfit 24*, Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 28 GGHS Snr B 22.

1st Grade: Ferkins Farming HSOG 33 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 17, Gis Glass Ngatapa 33 Ferkins Farming HSOG 27, Tyre General Ngatapa 23 Thistle Storm 23.

​1st Reserve: Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 32 Uawa Nui 22, OBM Red 27 Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 17, Wahine Hauora HSOG 25 JT Contracting Horouta Hiriwa 12.

2nd Grade: DMED 39 De Costa Ngatapa 20, Thistle Phoenix 28 YMP Manawanui 16, Thistle Phoenix 32 De Costa Ngatapa 24.