Match could be season highlight

COMBINING WELL: YMP wing attack Hine Hubbard, here receiving the ball with Horouta Gold wing defence Ngahuria Akania in close attendance, has formed an outstanding midcourt combination with Ata Mangu. They will be tested in the game against High School Old Girls at the YMCA tomorrow morning. Picture by Paul Rickard

The match of the season so far — that could be the YMP-High School Old Girls clash in premier-grade netball at the YMCA tomorrow morning.

YMP Sunshine Brewery are unbeaten in the Pak’nSave competition this year, while Taste One HSOG are the other premier-grade pacesetters.

The 10am fixture has all the hallmarks of a classic.

“These teams are top of the table and have yet to lose in this round,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Both teams like to move the ball at speed and their understanding between players is developing well,” she said.

“Both teams have strength in each area of the court. It is too hard to pick.”

HSOG coach Tanya Owen said her team were expecting a tough game.

“YMP are the defending champions. They have some classy players and make good connections through court as a team.”

Owen said that for her team, the aim would be to stick to their own structures and processes, and their game plan.

“At the moment I feel the girls are tracking well, but I feel there is still more for them to give to each other.”

She said her team were “pretty relaxed” about tomorrow.

“It’s another game, another challenge that I feel they will respond to well.”

The depth of the HSOG bench could be the telling factor. HSOG have been near-seamless in the way their bench players have contributed.

YMP were in commanding form against Lytton Senior A last week and showed the sort of form that should give them a crack at defending their title.

If their midcourt can get the same control they showed last week, they will be hard to stop.

Hine Hubbard and Ata Mangu have proved an outstanding combination in the centres, and Bronya McMenamin has been a force wherever coach Ingrid Brown has played her.

Brown anticipates a good match-up.

“Every game you just want to keep improving,” she said.

“Our mindset is that once you are able to tick off something that you’ve been working on in training, it’s about doing that well in the game.

“At the end of the day, our squad is quite relaxed as individuals, and they go out to enjoy themselves.”

Containing YMP’s speed through court will be the biggest challenge for HSOG in what will be the only premier match of the day.

Games resume across the road at Victoria Domain with the Mother Earth Year 5 and 6, intermediate, secondary and senior grades all in action from 8.30am to 3pm.