Horouta get the points they need

EYE on target: Horouta Gold's Ashley Maka takes aim at the goal as Gisborne Girls' High School's Skye Huhu defends. Horouta won over Whangara Old Girls last night 52-44.Picture by Paul Rickard

YMP reinforced their dominance in Gisborne premier grade netball with a handsome victory over No.2-ranked Waikohu at the YMCA last night.

They won 59-40, having led at the end of all the quarters.

Also last night, Horouta Gold got the points they needed to make the playoffs.

Spectators were treated to a good display of netball skills. Both games were close until halftime and then the winning teams pulled away.

JT Contractors Horouta Gold defeated Whangara Old Girls (1) 52-44.

Whangara led 13-11 after 15 minutes but Horouta Gold were up 23-19 at halftime, and 38-30 after 45 minutes.

You could sense the importance of this win for both teams as the start was tense and every ball carrier was pressured throughout the court.

Horouta Gold settled quickly into scoring goals in the first quarter and pulled ahead to lead 7-2, but near the end of it Whangara had drawn even and then pulled ahead to lead at the first break.

The second quarter was virtually goal for goal until halfway through, when Horouta Gold had a run of seven goals to take a lead they never relinquished.

They have shown good improvement this season and last night they gave a fine display of players working together as a team on attack and defence.

Their links worked well and moved the ball confidently in to their shooters, Jahneia Kemp and Ashley Maka, who finished off with some impressive goals.

Midcourters Ngahuria Akania and Lexi Rutene moved speedily around the attacking end and drove to the top of the goal circle to be available for passes.

At the other end, goal defenders Lucretia Taitapanui and Te Aorangi Kemp worked together to pressure the Whangara shooters and secured many tips, intercepts and rebounds.

Whangara tried various options and had some good passages of play, but Horouta Gold were determined to take this win and kept the pressure on for the full hour.

In the second match last night, YMP comfortably defeated Waikohu (1), with the quarter scores 13-10, 28-23, 40-32 and 59-40.

Both teams started the game strongly and the score went virtually goal for goal until a few minutes before halftime, when YMP had a run of five goals to take them to the break.

Both teams were using their links well to work the ball through the court in to their shooters while eluding the opposition's pressure.

In the third quarter Waikohu scored the first four goals.

However, YMP increased pressure by using their zone defence well and this caused Waikohu to make little errors and waste a few passes.

YMP slowly pulled ahead and then had a strong last quarter to outscore Waikohu 19-8.

YMP's strength is in the team working together and always backing each other up throughout the court.

In the game at the YMCA on Saturday, Waikohu will have their second match of the week when they take on Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls' High School.