“I am rapt with the way the girls played,” said YMP coach Ingrid Brown.
“Everyone gave 110 percent and they deserved this win. We’re a tight unit and we’ve been tight all season. It showed in the final.”
Brown said her girls did it “for each other, for our whanau and the wider YMP club”.
Elated YMP skipper Paku-Jane Brown-White put it simply: “We did it! We worked hard for each other. We’re rapt to get there and win the Jan Duncan Memorial Cup.”
Brown declined to single out any players for special mention.
“Everyone contributed. They were all flawless.”
Whangara skipper Tracey Babbington-Maynard said while the result was a disappointment ,“we were just stoked to be in the final”.
“That has been our aim all season. That’s what we have worked so hard for.
“A poor start really cost us today. You cannot warm into a game like this. You have got to start strong straight away. Well done YMP. They played well.”
A slow startWhangara coach Ronnie Martin also lamented their slow start.
“It was not a good beginning for us. The girls did not work like they should have. The pressure of the final created missed shots and throwing your own ball away does not help.
“I am not really that disappointed, though. We have to be thankful just to make the final.”
She picked out Tania Hill at goal defence for an immense game. Sandee Porter shot well at goal shoot and Raipoia Kawhia played a big hand in the third-quarter fightback when she came on at centre.
YMP were deserved champions. They got there on the back of accuracy and fierce determination, particularly at the defensive end, and with their control in midcourt.
It was clear — certainly in the first half where they dominated and in the final 15 minutes — that they wanted it more.
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n Lytton Senior A stamped their class all over the premier grade bottom four final — beating Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A 67-34.
They surged to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. By halftime they led 34-19 and were up 49-24 after 45 minutes.
“Lytton showed complete understanding between each other. Their flow of ball was great,” said netball commentator Sherrill Beale. “There was always someone there to take the next pass. They all did their job and played well. It is so good for our netball to have these two school teams here today. It’s so good for the future of our game.”
Lytton shooters Manaia Hutana and Honey Mokomoko were on target and the midcourters were everywhere. Elenoa Seruwaqa and Ruby Westrupp were once again a force in defence.
“The girls had a really strong start and just kept building on it,” said Lytton coach Ronnie Martin.
“Manaia shot so well and Honey came into her own, too. It was a complete team performance.”
Martin said it was hard to compare the development the team had shown with others she had coached.
“But it is certainly right up there. They have produced a huge improvement in their game.”
Girls’ High coach Dianah Foley said “congratulations to Lytton. They played really well.
“My girls have got a bit more work to do ahead of the Lower North Island secondary schools tournament early next month but we are excited.”
Her picks of the team were goal keep Reace McBeth, who she said never stopped trying, centre Te Mai Ora Olsen Baker and wing attack Rebecca Ruru.
Lytton will also compete in the Lower NI tournament where they will seek to gain promotion from B to A grade. Based on their growth this season in the premier grade, they will have a great shot at it.
