Grade changes but not in premiers

FULL STRETCH: Horouta Gold’s Challise Rutene gathers the ball under pressure from Tanya Owen (IMS High School Old Girls). Horouta won the game 54-40. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A and Horouta Gold produced comprehensive second round wins in their premier-A grade netball challenges on Saturday to rightfully retain their premier status this season.

The students and Horouta carried right on from where they left off in the first round of challenge games last Wednesday night.

They repeated the dose to A Grade challengers IMS High School Old Girls and Horouta Taimana.

Horouta Gold and HSOG ended the first quarter of their game on level terms (12-all) but a dominant second quarter saw Horouta lead 29-20 at half time.

They held that lead to be 40-30 up heading into the final 15 minutes, then won it 54-40.

“Horouta found their flow in the second period,” said netball commentator Sherrill Beale.

“The whole team worked together on attack and defence and they edged ahead.”

In the other match GGHS Snr A soundly defeated Horouta Taimana 62-40.

The students led throughout and the quarter scores tell the story — 19-11, 29-21, 42-30, 62-40.

“Girls’ High were hungry for this win and worked together for the whole hour,” Beale said.

“On defence their tight marking caused turnovers and because of their good links through court they were able to deliver some very good ball into their shooters.”

The Gisborne Netball Centre Grading Committee deliberated over results from all the challenge games and seeded teams for the remainder of the 2019 Pak’nSave Gisborne Netball Competition.

“Our premier grade will remain unchanged for the season after definitive results by both GGHS Snr A and Horouta Gold in the challenge match-ups,” said centre manager Allisa Hall.

“IMS HSOG Masters and Horouta Taimana will continue the season in A Grade.”

The A Grade/A Reserve Challenge games saw some close results.

“Claydens Waikohu Masters had two clear-cut wins over Whalis (51-26) and Campion Snr A (46-29), so have been promoted to the A Grade.

“Campion Snr A defeated YMP Masters by one goal, while YMP Masters defeated Whalis by seven. Those results were deemed close enough to warrant the three teams being placed together, with the outcome to play the season in A Reserve Grade,” Hall said.

Two strong wins over GGHS Snr 2 (33-19) and Farmlands Ngatapa (44-14) has seen FarmCare HSOG promoted up to A Reserve.

“A win and a loss for Farmlands Ngatapa, and draw and loss for GGHS Snr 2, has seen both teams relegated to 1st Grade for the season. Gisborne Denture Clinic HSOG will remain in 1st Grade.”

The 1st Grade/1st Reserve Challenge Games saw some of the closest results.

“Gisborne Glass Ngatapa, GGHS Jnr A and Thistle Storm have been deemed level, so will all play in the 1st Grade for the season. Whatatutu had two losses, so have been relegated to the 1st Reserve Grade.

“Two wins for Kotahi Aroha has kept them in 1st Reserve Grade, with both GGHS 3 and OBM Red Social having big wins over YMP Manawanui.

“Despite both GGHS and OBM losing to Kotahi Aroha, it was decided that the gap between the 1st Reserve and 2nd Grade sits between GGHS 3 and YMP Manawanui.”

Hall said all challenge games and round one results were considered.

“The final grade make-up was carefully weighed up to provide the best competition in each grade for the season.

“We are confident the grade make-up will see great, competitive games on court, and we look forward to an exciting season.”