End-to-end thriller

STUDENTS SHOW THEIR QUALITY: Gisborne Girls’ High School senior A’s Caitlin Bregman puts the heat on Waikohu goal attack Arahia Ruru in their close encounter, which Waikohu eventually won 60-57. Picture by Paul Rickard

Round 3 in the Pak’nSave premier grade netball competition got off to a fine start on Saturday when Waikohu and Girls’ High put on a 60-57 end-to-end thriller.

Claydens Waikohu 1 won it but Gisborne Girls’ High School senior A made them dig deep.

That the teams were locked up 16-all after 15 minutes, then 31-all at halftime indicates the intensity of the contest.

Girls’ High were up 46-43 at three-quarter time, and Waikohu had to pull one out of the bag to get back in front.

“There were some good netball skills on display,” said commentator Sherrill Beale.

“It was a close game for the full hour and it could have gone either way.”

Beale said Waikohu came out with more intensity in the last quarter.

“They quickly caught up the three goal deficit and they were five goals up midway through the remaining playing time.

“Both teams’ shooters worked hard — Waikohu’s Toni Rutene, Ariz Ruru, and Karen Matiaha replaced Toni in the last quarter.”

The Girls’ High shooters Te Oriwia Tuipolotu and Peyton Riri also delivered for their team, she said.

“There were some good match-ups.

“In the centres Waikohu’s Marie Ruru and Hannah Veitch for Girls’ High worked tirelessly for the full game. They drove to the goal circle, linked both ends and pressured each other.

“Waikohu’s goal keep for the first three-quarters of the match Karen Matiaha and Girls’ High’s Te Oriwia Tuipolotu moved around the goal circle and contested the ball well.”

Beale said Girls’ High showed good patience in moving the ball around in the third quarter until the shooters were in better positions and managed to pull ahead.

“However, that changed in the final quarter when Waikohu made some changes.

“They put Karen Matiaha into goal shoot — that added more height and Waikohu’s intensity lifted.

“The students struggled to adjust to the different play and let errors into their game.

“It was good to see them manage to get a bonus point for their close loss,” Beale said.

Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said the students kept coming like she knew they would.

“I was relieved at the end, but also happy with the way the girls recovered from the third quarter and pulled things together to win it.

“We made some changes that seemed to work, thank God.

“We will gladly take the points.”

Girls’ High coach Irene Takao said she knew her girls had a performance like that in their pockets.

“They are at a stage in their netball careers where they just need to learn how to close games out.

“I am not disappointed, but I knew they had it in them to do the job and get the win.

“All the senior teams have to be mindful that this team is only going to get better.”

The students’ bonus point moves them off the bottom of the table on to seven points, ahead of Ritana senior A and Horouta Gold on 6.

Waikohu retain second spot on 21 points, behind YMP Sunshine Brewery on 24.