Last chance saloon for Premier grand final hopefuls

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

Whangara Old Girls or Waikohu?

The answer to that question will be found tonight when these sides meet in a Gisborne Pak’nSave Premier Grade semifinal at the YMCA.

The winners of the 7.30pm clash will go on to face Turanga FM YMP (1) in the grand final.

The losers will finish the 2023 season in third place.

Tonight’s knockout semi is shaping up to be a close tussle as the competition draws towards an exciting conclusion.

Whangara were edged 48-45 by YMP in last week’s 1 v 2 playoff game and are determined to get the chance to avenge that in the final.

Waikohu head into tonight’s game on the back of a 59-46 defeat of Horouta Koura in a 3 v 4 knockout semi on Saturday.

The last time Whangara and Waikohu met, Waikohu powered to a 10-goal lead in the first quarter, but Whangara pulled the deficit back to be level at halftime.

From there it was virtually goal for goal in the next two quarters, with each team pulling ahead only for the other to drag it back. Whangara eventually won by five goals.

Tonight’s rematch is likely be another tight contest.

Success will depend on how well the players work together on attack and defence.

Supporters will be out in force to add to the atmosphere of what should be an entertaining match.

Positions fifth to seventh in the Premier Grade will be decided in the 6pm game between Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A and Character Roofing YMP (2).

The students have been playing well and secured a big win against YMP (2) the last time they played.

YMP (2) struggled before beating a depleted Farmlands Ngatapa 43-41 in a bottom-three game on Saturday, so will need to bring their top game to have a chance of upsetting the students..

Girls’ High, who beat Ngatapa by 15 goals last week, will be keen to finish the season on a winning note and seal fifth position where they were placed after round-robin play.