Horouta Gold cause big upset

PRESSURE: Waikohu’s Missy Ruru (left) gathers the ball under pressure from Horouta Gold’s Simmy Taitapanui in Gisborne premier-grade netball on Saturday. Horouta won 52-44. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOROUTA Gold produced one of their best performances this season to beat Claydens Waikohu 52-44 in a see-saw contest in premier-grade netball in the YMCA on Saturday.

Horouta led 13-11 after 15 minutes but Waikohu got their game going to lead 23-22 at halftime.

Horouta snatched the ascendancy back in the third quarter to lead 37-34 with 15 minutes to play.

Fumbled ball and at-times clumsy play in the shooting circle in the final period cost Waikohu, and their opponents capitalised.

“It was an excellent result for us,” delighted Horouta coach Charnelle Rutene said.

“The girls had to really dig deep. We had four second-team players out there for us today, but the whole team stood up.

“Waikohu did not play like we know they can but I am pleased the girls were able to make the most of it.

“We needed this result more than they did and it makes our goal to make the top four more realistic.”

She picked out mother-and-daughter defensive duo Simmy and Lucretia Taitapanui at goal defence and goal keep as Horouta’s best on the day.

Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said they missed normal goal defence Stormy Merritt, who was stuck in the Bay of Plenty because of the slip in the Waioeka Gorge.

“Credit to Horouta, they played really well,” Te Rito said.

“I don’t know what it was with the girls early on in the game. Too early in the morning maybe, but you can’t win them all, and we are still on track for the playoffs.

“Maybe this is the loss we needed to get back on track for top four. We can only learn from it and come back stronger.”

Best of the dayTe Rito picked out her defensive end as their best of the day.

“Ani Tiko (goal keep) and Cherie Parsons (goal defence) both played really well.”

In the other match, Taste One High School Old Girls played one of their best halves of netball this season before Whangara Old Girls wore them down and won 64-51.

HSOG led at the end of the first quarter 16-14 but trailed 31-28 at halftime.

By the third quarter, Whangara were clicking along, with the variation of their attack the feature. At the three-quarter mark they led 45-38.

They were patient in their build-up at times, and electric at others as they worked the ball through court at speed.

Whangara coach Ronnie Martin said that while the winning margin was a lot bigger last time they played High School Old Girls, this time the HSOG game was a lot stronger.

“It took the girls longer to settle,” she said.

“They had to work for it more than they expected, I think, which was good for them.

“After last Wednesday night’s game against Lytton, they needed a bit of a boot from me, and they got it.”

Martin said she was pleased with the way their midcourt worked together.

“Raipoia Kawhia at centre had a nice wee game, picking up some intercepts and feeding the ball well in to our shooters.

“Tiara Weir at goal keep and Tania Hill at goal defence were also exceptional.”

HSOG coach Naomi Whitewood said it was her team’s best performance this round.

“We are starting to settle combinations and it shows.

“Natalie Te Kani (goal attack) and Ashleigh Brown (goal shoot) both shot well, and Alex Sinclair (goal keep) and Saffron Epairama (goal defence) both defended their space well.”