Lower-seeded teams perform well

NETBALL

BOTH the lower-seeded teams in action in premier netball last night at the Gisborne YMCA gave a good account of themselves and pushed their opponents.

There were only three goals in it at halftime in the game between Whangara Old Girls and Claydens Waikohu (3).

Whangara won it 58-43 after they pulled away in the third quarter (43-37).

“Waikohu (3) worked together tonight and pushed top-of-the-table Whangara for the first three quarters,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“However, Whangara played with more intensity in the last quarter, moved the ball at speed and cut down Waikohu’s options.

“In that last quarter, Whangara’s Materoa Poi, at wing defence, was out hunting the ball and secured several tips and intercepts which helped her team pull away.”

In the second match last night, YMP Sunshine Brewery were 59-43 winners against Gillies Electrical GGHS Senior A.

YMP led 15-11 after 15 minutes, 33-23 at halftime and 45-35 at three-quartertime.

“The students were competitive and able to keep within 10 goals against the higher-seeded YMP for most of the game,” Beale said. “They let it slip away in the last five minutes.

“YMP Sunshine Brewery were more focused in the last five minutes and the pressure pushed the students into errors that were quickly capitalised on.”

In Saturday’s games, F45 High School Old Girls will play Horouta Gold, and Tapuae will play Claydens Waikohu (1).