Girls’ High, Horouta set for sprint finish in Premier Grade netball

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The race for the Premier Grade top four is heading towards the home straight and it could come down to a sprint finish for the last spot.

Going into tonight’s two games — Claydens Waikohu (1) v Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A; Horouta Koura v Farmlands Ngatapa — three teams have confirmed their places in the August 9 semifinals.

YMP (1) lead on 44 points, with Whangara Old Girls (1) second on 33 and Claydens Waikohu (1) third on 27.

Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A (22pts) and Horouta Koura (21) are battling for the other place.

Horouta have the inside running. They have two games to go while Girls’ High’s 6pm clash tonight with Waikohu is their final points game.

And it could be a close contest.

The last time they met (June 7), the students stormed back from a seven-goal deficit to stun the 2022 runners-up 55-46. Girls’ High played as a team that day, similar to how they did in last weekend’s big win over Ngatapa.

Another indicator of a potentially close encounter tonight is both sides recently drew with Horouta.

Horouta, who have been playing well, take on Ngatapa at 7.30pm tonight. Having had two big wins over Ngatapa this season, Horouta should comfortably bank four points.

Should Girls’ High lose, victory over Ngatapa would confirm Horouta’s spot in the semifinals.

Should both sides win, the final semifinal berth would come down to Horouta’s last game (against Whangara Old Girls).

Ngatapa have shown passages of good team play but this is likely to be another tough outing for them.