HSOG fired up by midweek loss

Finding the gap: Waikohu’s Stormy Merritt (centre) passes the ball between YMP goal attack Kellann Kemp (left) and goal shoot Paku-Jane Skudder in premier netball action last year. Merritt is back in action for Waikohu against High School Old Girls at the YMCA tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

HIGH School Old Girls will take the YMCA court with extra fire in their bellies tomorrow as they look to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss to Gisborne Girls’ High School, and Waikohu will be on the receiving end.

The Girls’ High victory over Taste One HSOG the other night was further evidence of how far the students have come.

“Girls’ High played really well,” HSOG coach Tanya Owen said.

“They were clinical on attack and patient, and gave up very few turnovers. They deserved that win.”

Owen said her girls took a lot out of the game.

“Our drop-off in consistency at times in games has been the story of our season so far and we have to change that.

“On Wednesday night that happened again in the final quarter, and we let the students get back into it.”

HSOG had a small buffer heading into the final 15 minutes, but the students came back and levelled it up, with the match going goal for goal for the last 10 minutes.

“One of the things I want to see tomorrow morning is consistency right through the full hour,” Owen said.

They knew Claydens Waikohu would be tough, she said.

“They will be physical, and they will come out all guns blazing. They will want the win as much as we do.”

Waikohu go into tomorrow’s game on the back of a comprehensive 19-goal victory over Horouta Gold last week.

Cheryl Te Rito’s outfit looked far more settled in that match, and the presence back on court of regular goal shoot Ariz Ruru was a major factor in that.

She gave them a reachable target in the shooting circle and that worked well.

“The Girls’ High win against HSOG has given us a bit more incentive to score points, because it’s us and Girls’ High vying for fourth spot on the table,” Te Rito said.

Girls’ High have 17 points; Waikohu have 12.

“Our last performance gave us a real lift,” Te Rito said.

“We have worked on a few things since then, and we look forward to tomorrow’s game.”

Her side will be further boosted tomorrow by the presense and strength of Stormy Merritt back on court.

“As long as we stick to our game plan, I think we will do fine,” Te Rito said.

Netball commentator Sherrill Beale predicts a close one.

“HSOG have won the previous two games between the teams, but Waikohu have been more settled in their past couple of games.”

It will be the only Pak’nSave netball premier match-up tomorrow, with play starting at 9am.