Lower grades set for playoffs fight

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

The top-four match-ups across the senior grades in Gisborne netball tomorrow have quality and excitement written all over them.

Game 1 in each grade will be the match between first and second seeds, and the winners go direct to their finals on August 17.

The losers go to a second-chance semifinal on August 10.

Game 2 will be between the third and fourth seeds. The winners also go to the second-chance semifinal on August 10. The losers get knocked out and finish fourth.

In Game 1 in the A Grade playoffs, Claydens Waikohu Masters take on IMS High School Old Girls Masters, and in Game 2 Uawa Hinematioro play Tatapouri Sportsfit.

“Waikohu Masters are a new entry for 2019,” netball centre manager Allisa Hall said.

“They played the grading round in A Reserve and were promoted to A Grade.

“This should be a tough game, with the teams facing each other twice this season and taking a win each.

“HSOG Masters are the A Grade 2017 winners and 2018 runners-up.

“Uawa are another new entry for the season, while Tatapouri were A Grade winners in 2016 and runners-up in 2017. This is shaping to be a great match-up after the teams met last weekend and Uawa had a one-goal victory.”

Game 1 in A Reserve Grade will be YMP Masters versus Whalis. Game 2 will be YMP TimberPro versus FarmCare HSOG.

“YMP Masters are a new entry,” Hall said.

“They played in the challenge round in May, but did not get promotion.

“Whalis were relegated from A Grade.

“These teams’ Round 3 clash last weekend was a draw, so another exciting game is expected.

“YMP TimberPro were the 2018 A Reserve winners, playing as YMP (2). FarmCare HSOG were promoted from First Grade at the start of the season.”

In Game 1 of the First Grade, Gisborne Denture Clinic HSOG take on Gisborne Glass Ngatapa, and in Game 2 Thistle Storm play Tatapouri Sportsfit Social.

“The Ngatapa team are the only ones from this grade who contested First Grade semifinals last year,” Hall said.

“But they were knocked out and didn’t make the final.

“Thistle were the First Reserve Grade runners-up last year, and were promoted to First Grade in the challenge round this season,” Hall said.

“These teams have all had close results in their last matches.”

The First Reserve games will be Uawa Ngarangikahiwa versus Whatatutu in Game 1, and OBM Red Social versus Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa in Game 2.

“Uawa and Whatatutu have been consistently strong in the First Reserve Grade this season,” Hall said.

“The only two losses Whatatutu have had in rounds 2 and 3 have been to Uawa, with both games being very close. It will be a great match-up.”

Game 1 in the Second Grade will be between Uawa Iranui and Sportsfit Magnolias, with Game 2 between YMP Manawanui and Thistle Phoenix.