Girls’ High, Horouta Gold stay up

MY BALL: YMP Masters wing attack Ngahuia Mita (left) is competing for the ball as GGHS' wing defence Hinerauiri Cotter-Luke looks to make her job hard. GGHS took home the win on Saturday after defeating YMP 55-27. Picture by Liam Clayton

The Premier Grade teams were again too strong for the challengers from Premier Reserve in the final “challenge round” games on Saturday.

Gisborne Girls' High School and Horouta Gold had convincing wins.

Promotion/relegation games across all grades produced a great day of netball in the Pak'nSave competition at Victoria Domain.

Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls' High beat YMP Masters 55-27, and JT Contractors Horouta Gold defeated JTC Horouta Taimana 49-34.

The Gisborne Netball Centre grading committee met to consider the results and determine the grade make-up for the remainder of the 2022 competition.

Teams were seeded from top to bottom, then the divisions for six teams per grade were entered.

GNC manager Allisa Hall said the Premier/Prem Reserve matches both had definitive results, which secured Premier Grade status for Horouta Gold and Gisborne Girls' High School Senior A.

Horouta Taimana and YMP Masters would remain in Premier Reserve grade.

A Grade challengers East Coast Log Haulage High School Old Girls had two dominant wins (by 24 and 22 goals) to earn promotion to Prem Reserve.

YMP (2) also challenged from A Grade, and with two wins (by 11 and 3 goals) also earned promotion.

From Prem Reserve, both Ritana Snr A and Claydens Waikohu (3) had been relegated to A Grade for the remainder of the season, Hall said.

Prem Reserve had played with only five teams so far this season, but the sixth spot had been filled by the re-entry of Old Girls Whangara into the grade.

Hall said the A Grade/A Reserve challenge games had interesting results.

“A Reserve challengers Enterprise Cars OBM Blue secured promotion to A Grade with good eight- and 14-goal wins,” Hall said.

“Tav Sportsfit earned seeding above Pharmacy 53 Campion/NUAM and YMP Hine Taiohi after their nine- and one-goal wins. Both Campion/NUAM and YMP Hine Taiohi will play the remainder of the season in the A Reserve Grade.”

Hall said A Reserve team Girls' High School Snr B secured their right to stay put after a 13-goal win against Gisborne Glass Ngatapa and a draw with school rivals Girls' High School Jnr A.

The draw, and a three-goal win against Ferkins Farming HSOG earned GGHS Jnr A seeding above both the Ngatapa and HSOG challengers. This resulted in Girls' High Jnr A being promoted to A Reserve.

Gisborne Glass Ngatapa would remain in First Grade, while Ferkins Farming HSOG had been relegated to First Grade for the remainder of the season.

Joining First Grade after a successful challenge round were Zeafruit Ngatapa.

“Their two wins (by six and eight goals) earned them promotion,” Hall said.

“A four-goal win and a loss on Saturday enabled Uawa Ngarangikahiwa to retain their First Grade spot.

“Wahine Hauora HSOG also had a win and a loss, but the grade divisions will see them relegated to First Reserve.

“Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) had two close losses, so will stay in First Reserve also.”

Hall said OBM Red had two wins (by seven and four goals) so they moved up the seeding table and were promoted to First Reserve.

Uawa Nui had a win and a loss and retained their seeding, which meant they also retained their spot in First Reserve.

“Despite also having a win and a loss on Saturday, Waikohu (4) have been relegated to Second Grade due to the grade divisions,” Hall said.

“XLR8 had two losses, so will stay in the Second Grade.

“The GNC grading committee is pleased the final grade make-up looks to have some great, competitive sections.

“We wish everyone luck for rounds 2 and 3, and the finals round to come.”