Horouta and Girls’ High ready to roll

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

The opponents in tomorrow’s premier-grade netball go into their match fresh off victories, and that will add spice to the contest at the YMCA.

Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A play Horouta Gold at 9am in the only premier-grade game being played in the Pak’nSave competition this weekend.

“There was just one goal in it last time these teams met,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Both teams’ confidence will be high after their first wins in this round last week.”

Girls’ High surprised Claydens Waikohu (1) and played as a team to beat them 50-39, while Horouta sneaked home, 41-40, against Lytton Senior A.

“I am expecting this to be a close game,” Beale said.

“It will come down to the team who eliminate their errors and look after the ball.”

Girls’ High coach Irene Takao said her team had as good a chance as any of pulling off another win tomorrow morning.

“I base that on the way the girls are producing good continuity in their play,” she said.

“They have been working together well, and as a new team they are getting quite close to being a good bonded unit. I have said that to them at training.

“As much as they are a little bit greener than their more experienced opposition, they are building a lot of confidence.”

Takao said she wanted another team effort tomorrow morning, like the one they produced against Waikohu.

“We have some good finishers, goalscorers, in the group, and we have a good defensive end.

“Our midcourt is connecting well through the middle.”

Horouta Gold have battled all season, and cannot be taken lightly. They will have been hugely buoyed by last week’s hard-fought win.

YMP and High School Old Girls lead the premier table on 20 points apiece, although YMP have a game in hand (against Whangara Old Girls).

Whangara are in third place on 13 points and Waikohu have eight. Both teams have a game in hand.

Lytton High Senior A have five points, and Girls’ High and Horouta have four each.

Horouta have two games in hand, counting tomorrow, and Girls’ High have one game in hand, counting tomorrow.

A win to either team tomorrow would light up the bottom section of the table considerably when it comes to the fourth spot in the top four.