Grading to set up challenges

GRADING BATTLES: Netballers take the Victoria Domain courts tomorrow in the first round of grading. Contests such as this — with High School Old Girls wing attack Courtney Stubbins (centre), Lytton wing defence Ruby Westrupp (left) and centre Georgia Teneti all going for the ball — will abound. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

GISBORNE netball teams have plenty to play for when the Pak’nSave competition starts with the first round of grading at Victoria Domain tomorrow morning.

Grading defines the challenge rounds of the competition and the eventual make-up of the grades for 2019.

Senior, secondary and intermediate teams are in action from 8.40am tomorrow.

“The seniors start their games seeded in the positions in which they finished the grade last year,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“At the end of the grading round — on May 1 for premiers and May 4 for other grades — the challenge games will be held.

“The top two teams of a grade play the bottom two teams of the grade above.”

Secondary and intermediate grades have three weeks of grading before they start their competition.

“It is always interesting to see the start of netball and the make-up of teams,” Beale said.

“Players who have remained with their team, players who have returned after a break, players who have moved teams, new players to the district . . . it all adds to the interesting, competitive nature of netball.”

Premier games to watch tomorrow include the 11am clash between Whangara Old Girls and Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A.

“Both of these teams finished in the middle of the table last year, so I expect this to be very competitive,” Beale said.

At midday, Taste One High School Old Girls take on Ritana Senior A and at 2pm HSOG play Horouta Gold.

“I am expecting HSOG to have the majority of their players from last year back, so Ritana and Horouta will need to put the Kathleen Henderson losses behind them and be ready to play as a team for the whole game in those matches.”

Also at midday, YMP Sunshine Brewery meet Horouta Gold.

“YMP Whanau started the year by being crowned Kathleen Henderson Memorial champions and they beat Horouta Gold 16-8 on the day,” Beale said.

“So you would have to lean towards YMP taking that game.”

Girls’ High play again at 1pm, against Claydens Waikohu.

“Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito made good use of her bench in the Kathleen Henderson and would have a good idea of her best combinations, so Girls’ High will need to bring their top game against them tomorrow,” Beale said.

It was always hard to make predictions early in the season because so many variables came into play, she said.

“If you think back to this time last year, Taste One HSOG, who were seeded bottom — beat defending champions YMP on the first day, and went on to be worthy runners-up in premier grade.”

Play goes through until 3pm.