Defending champions handed second defeat

Whangara Old Girls have started the defence of their Jan Duncan crown with a two-loss — one-win record, after their bonus point two-goal loss against Horouta Koura on Wednesday night in the YMCA. The 2023 champions have some work to do. Whangara’s Saffron Eparaima and YMP (1)’s Ata Mangu were pictured in action during their recent premier clash. Picture by Paul Rickard

Defending premier grade champions Whangara Old Girls suffered a second consecutive loss in the mid-week netball matches in the Gisborne YMCA on Wednesday night — an intense battle that could have gone either way.

TR Builds Horouta Koura led almost all the way to win it 28-26.

Whangara picked up a bonus point

for a final scoring margin within three goals.

It was a close match the whole way through as the quarter scores indicate. All were in Horouta’s favour —  7/5, 13/11, 19/17, 28/26.

Both teams put intense pressure on the opposition and all players had to work hard to get the ball through the court to their shooters.

Horouta Koura led for most of the way and pulled away by four goals, but Whangara pulled the deficit back and the team were locked at 21-all after three minutes of play in the last quarter.

Then it virtually went goal for goal until the last minute, with Horouta Koura getting a goal in front, then scoring one more to win by two.

Claydens Waikohu (1) accounted for Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A 49-26. They led throughout, 15/6, 27/15, 38/21 at the breaks.

Waikohu (1) played as a team, each player doing their job well. They had speedy movement on attack and in defence they applied strong pressure to create many turnovers.

GGHS Snr A had some good passages of play, where the ball moved confidently through the court, and it felt like the scoreline was closer than the scoreboard was displaying.

But it was always Waikohu’s night.

In the final match, Turanga FM YMP (1) dominated Character Roofing YMP (2) 46-12. Quarter scores were 13/3, 21/6, 32/9.

YMP (1) were too strong for their clubmates.

They moved the ball speedily through the court and displayed good understanding with each other.

YMP (2) struggled under the defensive pressure from YMP (1).

All netball takes a break this weekend.

Seniors restart the following Saturday, April 27, and school grades the week after that.

Gisborne Netball Centre has

holiday programmes planned for next week.

Monday April 22 — Year 3 and 4.

Tuesday-Wednesday April 23-24 — Year 5 and 6.