YMP face Whangara in a 1 v 2 semifinal at the Y tomorrow. The winners advance straight to the final. The losers face the winners of the do-or-die semi between Waikohu and Horouta on Saturday.
Saturday morning’s tripleheader started with a bottom-of-the-table clash between Character Roofing YMP (2) and Farmlands Ngatapa — both teams having been promoted from Premier Reserve this season.
YMP (2) won 52-42 to move off the bottom on five points — just one ahead of Ngatapa.
It was clear how important an elusive win was to either side.
The tension was palpable early on with several turnovers resulting in the ball going up and down the court.
YMP (2) scored the first three goals but by the eighth minute the score was locked at 6-apiece.
YMP (2) were more settled in the second quarter. They got the first five goals and continued their momentum to be up by 10 at halftime.
The next quarter was even as Ngatapa tried to eat into the deficit, but the damage had been done and YMP (2) edged further in front to comfortably win by 12.
YMP (2)’s circle defenders Kiana Ria Renata-Kokiri and Toni Halley worked together well for the whole game to put Ngatapa’s shooters under constant pressure.
They were ably assisted around the goal circle by mid-courters Alayna Banks and Huntin Hooper, who made it difficult for to Ngatapa to deliver the ball in to their shooters.
Both YMP (2) goal defenders collected many intercepts, especially Halley.
Centre Hooper, was a steadying influence through the court, linking both ends and was keeping herself available for back-up passes.
YMP’s shooter Ngarita Ehau-Taumanui worked their goal circle well to collect some good passes and finish off with goals.
Ngatapa never gave up and in the third quarter started to pull back the deficit, but couldn’t maintain it.
When attackers Maria Jefferies and Lucy Deighton and shooters Hannah Little and Jayda Taiepa moved the ball quickly, Ngatapa were competitive, but there were not enough of those times.
YMP (1) and Waikohu fought out a highly competitive game and their impressive skills were enjoyed by a vocal crowd.
In a rare experience for YMP this season, Waikohu were just ahead at the first break.
Order was restored in the second quarter as YMP surged to a four-goal lead at halftime, but Waikohu were not about to be repelled and drew level in the third quarter.
The volume level rose in the Y as each team pulled ahead only for the other to peg them back.
That continued up to the last three minutes of the fourth quarter when YMP punished a couple of errors to earn a five-goal advantage.
All players contributed to the drama and it was a great advertisement for the playoffs.
Whangara Old Girls and Horouta Koura also went toe-to-toe in another clash enjoyed by fans.
Both sides moved the ball speedily through the court in to their shooters who responded in kind with impressive finishing.
It was goal for goal until about halfway through the second quarter when Whangara pulled ahead.
It looked like Whangara were going to run away with it. Horouta had other ideas. Down by 10, they fought hard to reduce the deficit but had to be content with a losing bonus point.
Premier Grade points: Turanga FM YMP (1) 48, Whangara Old Girls 37, Claydens Waikohu (1) 32, Horouta Koura 26, GGHS Snr A 23, Character Roofing YMP (2) 5, Farmlands Ngatapa 4.
Top-four semifinals: 1, YMP (1) v 2, Whangara Old Girls; 3, Whangara Old Girls v 4, Horouta Koura. Winners of 1 v 2 into final; losers of 1 v 2 face winners of 3 v 4 in semifinal.
Other senior grade results (*bonus point for losing by three goals or less) Prem Reserve/A Grade: YMP Masters 35 Whalis 27, Horouta Taimana 35 HSOG 33*, Down to Earth OG Whangara 39 Claydens Waikohu (2) 15, FarmCare HSOG 25 Waikohu P2 24*, The Tav Sportsfit 27 GGHS Snr B 26*.
Premier Reserve points: Down to Earth OG Whangara 36, Waikohu P2 27, Horouta Taimana 25, FarmCare HSOG 22.
A Grade points : HSOG 21, YMP Masters 19, The Tav Sportsfit 19, Gisborne Girls’ High
Snr B 10, Whalis 9, Claydens Waikohu (2) 4.
A Reserve: Gisborne Girls’ High Jnr A 39 ATS OBM Blue 18, Campion Snr A 38 Tyre General Ngatapa 19, YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 23 Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 22*.
Points: YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 40, Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 31, GGHS Jnr A 23, Campion Snr A 20, Tyre General Ngatapa 8, ATS OBM Blue 6.
1st Grade: Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit 33 Claydens Waikohu (4) 27, Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 27 Horouta Hiriwa 25*, Mike Pero Mortgages Thistle Storm 35 OBM White 19.
Points: Claydens Waikohu (4) 36, Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit OG 28, Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 24, Horouta Hiriwa 21, Mike Pero Mortgages Thistle 12, OBM White 2.
1st Reserve: Whatatutu 25 GGHS Tuakana 25, Allwood Enterprises HSOG 20 XLR8 19*, OBM OG 33 Uawa Nui 17, XLR8 17 Whatatutu 9.
Points: Allwood Enterprises HSOG 36, XLR8 33, Whatatutu 26, OBM OG 17, Gisborne Girls’ High Tuakana 11, Uawa Nui 4.
2nd Grade: YMP Manawanui 36 Gis Glass Ngatapa 17, Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 23 Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 18.
Points: YMP Manawanui 29, Horouta Kohatu 24, Gis Glass Ngatapa 16, Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 13, Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 6.
Gisborne Netball Premier Grade playoffs start tomorrow in the YMCA.
The three teams who did not make the top four are involved in a round-robin to decide placings fifth to seventh.
The first of those games is between Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A and Farmlands Ngatapa.
It is the curtain-raiser to the 1 v 2 clash between Turanga FM YMP (1) Whangara Old Girls (1) to decide who advances directly to the final (Saturday, August 19).
On Saturday, Character Roofing YMP (2) play Farmlands Ngatapa in the second bottom-three round-robin game.
They precede the 3 v 4 knockout game between Claydens Waikohu (1) and Horouta Koura.
Next Wednesday (Aug 16), Girls’ High and YMP (2) complete the bottom three playoffs.
It will be the curtainraiser to the game between the losers of the YMP (1)-Whangara game and the winners of the Waikohu-Horouta elimination semi.
In all other senior grades, there will be knock out semifinals this Saturday.
In each grade, the top team on points plays the fourth-placed team while second play third.
The winners advance to finals; the losers finish third-equal.
Fifth and sixth teams in each grade will also play off to decide their final positions.
