Favourites will be tough

AERIAL BALL CLAIMED: Whangara Old Girls goal keep Nadia Hohipa claims the ball under pressure from Horouta Gold goal shoot Jahneia Kemp (left) and goal attack Lexi Rutene in a premier-grade game last month. Horouta play Waikohu (1) and Whangara play newly promoted Tapuae in premier-grade netball at the YMCA tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

WAIKOHU and Whangara Old Girls carry the favourites tag into tomorrow’s second lot of games in the netball premiership and both should win well.

The higher-seeded teams have been performing well and will be tough nuts to crack for their opposition.

Similar scorelines to those produced in the first games at the YMCA on Wednesday night can be expected.

YMP Sunshine Brewery and F45 High School Old Girls scored more than 100 goals overall in their matches against Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls’ High School and Claydens Waikohu (3) on Wednesday.

Claydens Waikohu (1) play their Pak’nSave competition game against Horouta Gold at 9am tomorrow.

“Horouta played in the challenge round and recorded two close wins to keep them in the premier grade,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“They come up against a Waikohu (1) team who are sitting second in the grade and have been playing some very good netball, so Horouta will need to bring their top game.”

The second game — at 11am, when Whangara Old Girls meet premier-grade newcomers Tapuae — should be closer.

“In the challenge games, Tapuae showed that they like to move the ball at speed, and their links through the court are working well,” Beale said.

“They earned their move to premiers by beating Ritana and losing narrowly — by just three goals — to Horouta.

“However, tomorrow they meet the team at the top of the grade, Whangara, who also like to move the ball at speed.

“Whangara also work as a team on attack and defence.

“I am expecting this to be a competitive game.”

Both premier matches will be played at the YMCA.

Last weekend all the senior grades played their challenge games and from those results there was some movement in grades.

“All the grades were reseeded and they start Round 2 of the competition tomorrow,” Beale said.

“The Victoria Domain courts will be busy from 9am through to 3pm, involving senior, secondary, intermediate and year 5 and 6 grades.”