Old Girls Whāngārā win Prem Reserve nailbiter in Gisborne senior netball

Gisborne Netball Centre's senior grades started their competitions proper on Saturday, including three tight Premier Reserve tussles in the YMCA.

A last-gasp goal got Old Girls Whāngārā home in a thrilling Premier Reserve netball game in the YMCA on Saturday.

With all Premier Grade games being played on Wednesday nights, Premier Reserve teams have the opportunity to showcase their talents in the Y.

OG Whāngārā, who dropped from Premi to Prem Reserve after two weeks of grading, had their fans chewing nails in a 41-40 win over YMP Hine Taioha in the first games of the competition proper.

“This was indeed a game of two halves,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

OG Whāngārā showed plenty of character to come back from a hefty halftime deficit.

“The young YMP team played well and led for three quarters of the game (13-6, 28-16 and 35-31).

“Both teams made changes, but YMP took a little while to settle with the new changes in the third [quarter] and Old Girls Whāngārā scored seven unanswered goals.

“They tightened their defence, pressured the ball carrier and steadily pulled back the deficit.

“The last quarter was very intense, with vocal spectators urging their team on.”

The side were locked at 39-all with two minutes to go, then 40-all. Old Girls Whāngārā scored a penalty goal on the final whistle to grab the win, while YMP earned a losing bonus point.

IMS HSOG beat Claydens Waikohu (2) 37-30.

There was little separating the sides until near the end of the last quarter, HSOG leading 11-8 after the first 12 minutes, 19-18 at halftime and 29-27 at the third-quarter break.

Beale said HSOG centre Lorrin Greatbatch had an impressive game, “driving to the top of the goal circle and delivering good ball to her shooters, who moved the circle, giving good options”.

Goal attack Jessie Collier also had a strong game, while at the other end of the court, goal keep Naomi Alovili proved “a menace” to the Waikohu attack.

A late surge by Ngatapa Gisborne Glass earned them a 32-23 win over HSOG.

“It was another closely contested match-up for three quarters of the game, with Ngatapa putting their foot down and scoring eight unanswered goals to finish the game,” Beale said.

“Ngatapa worked together as a team on attack and defence and pressured HSOG into making errors.”

Standouts for the winners were wing attack Lucy Deighton and Christina Arnold, who Beale said “were patient in bringing the ball through the court and feeding in to their shooters”; goal attack Brooke McEwan, who “positioned herself well to collect the ball and then finished off with goals; and goal keep Holly McIldowie, who ”worked tirelessly and used her good timing to collect many tips, intercepts and rebounds".

Other results – A Grade: YMP Masters 33 Claydens Waikohu (3) 8, Whalis 34 Manutūkē Manukura (1) 29, Pioneer The Tav 30 Tūranga Pirates Manawa 24.

A Reserve: Smith Earthworks Tūranga Panthers Gold 35 Gisborne Girls’ High Jnr A 14, Ngatapa Tyre General 27 Tūranga Pirates Mahuika 26, Sportsfit (2) 32 Earthwork Solutions HSOG 23.

1st Grade: Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 24 Claydens Waikohu (4) 23, Pioneer Earthwork Solutions (1) 27 Ūawa Te kahui 24, Campion Snr A 28 Whangara Paikea 26.

1st Reserve: GGHS Tuakana 27 Tūranga Pirates Manaaki 20, XLR8 20 Campion Snr B 12, Ritana Snr A 22 Tūranga Pirates Mauri 13.

2nd Grade: Tūranga Panthers Green 26 Autotech HSOG 25, Waima 19 Newman & Newman Ngatapa 17, Pioneer Earthwork Solutions (2) 20 Tūranga Pirates Maia 6.

Premier Grade draw for Wednesday

YMCA, 6pm: Claydens Waikohu (1) v Turanga FM YMP.

7.30pm: Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A v Horouta Gold.