The composition of the seven grades in Gisborne's senior netball competition for 2026 was finalised over the weekend after two Saturdays of grading games. Five teams make up the Premier Grade.
Five teams will do battle for Premier Grade glory in the 2026 Gisborne senior netball competition.
The second and final Saturday of grading games in all grades was completed at the weekend, followed by the Gisborne Netball Centre grading committee meeting to discuss the make-up of this year’s seven grades.
Up top, it was decided to drop Old Girls Whāngārā to Premier Reserve, following their four defeats over the two weekends of 10-minute grading games.
OG Whāngārā lost 15-5 to Horouta Gold and 16-5 to Whāngārā Old Girls at the Victoria Domain courts on Saturday.
“We have determined only five teams will compete for the Jan Duncan Trophy in the Premier Grade this year to ensure the competition is more evenly matched and fair for all teams,” GNC said in a release.
Those teams are Claydens Waikohu (1), Gisborne Girls’ High School Senor A, Horouta Gold, Tūranga FM YMP and Whāngārā Old Girls.
“There were no other teams deemed ready at this stage to be in that sixth position, with the Prem Reserve grade also having evenly matched results.
“While we didn’t want to have to reduce the grade, it’s not the best growth for players to have teams in grades to make up numbers rather than provide adequate competition.”
“Premier games will now play only on Wednesday nights, with full competition format to be conveyed to teams shortly.
“To look at our strategic direction and growth for the 2027 season and beyond, we have decided to change the Prem Reserve set-up to help teams develop and grow and be more of a bridge towards Premier Grade.
“Prem Reserve games will be played primarily in the YMCA on Saturdays and move to 12-minute quarter games as a step towards the Premier 60-minute matches.
“With seven teams in the grade with the addition of the Old Girls Whāngārā team from Premier, the teams all look reasonably closely matched, and we expect some great competition to build this next level of netball growth.
“The grading committee have endeavoured to keep all grades set with teams to provide the best possible competition going forwards.
“We wish all teams well for the rest of the season and look forward to seeing you all out there.”
Waikohu finished the Premier grading with a record of three wins and a draw (against YMP); YMP had two wins and two draws; Horouta Gold two wins a draw and a loss; Gisborne Girls’ High two wins and two losses; Whāngārā Old Girls one win and three losses; and Old Girls Whāngārā four losses.
The Premier Grade competition proper starts on Wednesday in the YMCA. The draw is - 6pm: Claydens Waikohu 1 v Horouta Gold.
7.30pm: Tūranga FM YMP v Whāngārā Old Girls.
GRADING RESULTS, WEEK 2 -
Premier: Turanga FM YMP 12 Whāngārā Old Girls 9, Turanga YMP 13 Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A 12, Horouta Gold 15 Old Girls Whāngārā 5, Whāngārā Old Girls 16 Old Girls Whāngārā 5, Claydens Waikohu (1) 14 GGHS Snr A 11, Claydens Waikohu (1) 10 Horouta Gold 8.
Premier Reserve: Claydens Waikohu (2) 11 Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 8, Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit 11 Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 9, Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit 16 High School Old Girls 9, High School Old Girls 10 IMS HSOG 10, IMS HSOG 11 YMP Hine Taiohi 6, YMP Hine Taiohi 15 Claydens Waikohu (2) 15.
A Grade: Pioneer The Tav 15 Manutūkē 9, Pioneer The Tav 19 Whalis 15, Tūranga Pirates Manawa 12 Claydens Waikohu (3) 6, Manutūkū 14 Tūranga Pirates Manawa 9, Whalis 11 YMP Masters 10, YMP Masters 19 Claydens Waikohu (3) 9.
A Reserve: Sportsfit (2) 22 Campion Snr A 2, Tyre General Ngatapa 11 Campion Snr A 7, Sportsfit (2) 17 Tyre General Ngatapa 6, Earthworks Solutions HSOG 12 Gisborne Girls’ High Senior B 9, Earthworks Solutions HSOG 17 Tūranga Pirates Mahuika 7, Tūranga Pirates Mahuika 13 GGHS Junior A 6, GGHS Jnr A 12 GGHS Snr B 7.
1st Grade: Smith Earthworks Tūranga Panthers Gold 17 Tūranga Pirates Mauri 1, Smith Earthworks Tūranga Panthers Gold 14 Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 10, Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 11 Ūawa Te Kahui 6, Claydens Waikohu (4) 17 Ūawa Te Kahui 4, Claydens Waikohu (4) 13 Whāngārā Paikea 5, Whāngārā Paikea 13 Tūranga Pirates Mauri 4.
1st Reserve: Waima 7 Campion Senior B 6, Ritana Senior A 11 Waima 4, Pioneer Earthworks Solutions (1) 15 XLR8 6, XLR8 9 Campion Snr B 7, Ritana Snr A 19 Newman & Newman Ngatapa 4, Pioneer Earthworks Solutions (1) 18 Newman & Newman Ngatapa 8.
2nd Grade: Tūranga Panthers Green 18 Tūranga Pirates Maia 4, Tūranga Panthers Green 16 Pioneer Earthworks Solutions (2) 11, Pioneer Earthworks Solutions 2 9 Tūranga Pirates Maia 2, Tūranga Pirates Manaaki 15 Autotech HSOG 6, GGHS Tuakana 15 Autotech HSOG 6, GGHS Tuakana 16 Sportsfit Social 14, Tūranga Pirates Manaaki 14 Sportsfit Social 12.
2026 GRADES
PREMIER: Claydens Waikohu (1); Gisborne Girls’ High School Senor A; Horouta Gold; Turanga FM YMP; Whāngārā Old Girls.
PREMIER RESERVE: Brendan Fry Builders Sportsfit; Claydens Waikohu (2); Gisborne Glass Ngatapa; HSOG; IMS HSOG; Old Girls Whāngārā; YMP Hine Taiohi.
A GRADE: Claydens Waikohu (3); Manutūkē Manukura (1); Pioneer The Tav; Tūranga Pirates Manawa; Whalis; YMP Masters.
A RESERVE: Earthwork Solutions HSOG; GGHS Junior A; GGHS Senior B; Smith Earthworks Tūranga Panthers Gold; Tatapouri Sportsfit; Tūranga Pirates Mahuika; Tyre General Ngatapa.
1ST GRADE: Campion Senior A; Claydens Waikohu (4); Pioneer Earthwork Solutions (1); Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa; Whāngārā Paikea; Ūawa Te Kahui.
1ST RESERVE: Campion Senior B; GGHS Tuakana; Ritana Senior A; Tatapouri Sportsfit Social; Tūranga Pirates Manaaki; Tūranga Pirates Mauri; XLR8.
2ND GRADE: Autotech HSOG; Newman & Newman Ngatapa; Pioneer Earthwork Solutions (2); Tūranga Panthers Green; Tūranga Pirates Maia; Waima.