One-goal win at end of fightback

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN: Whangara Old Girls defender Taryn Walford (right) reaches in to disrupt the pass in to Waikohu goal attack Arahia Ruru. Whangara won the game 36-35. Picture by Paul Rickard

WHANGARA Old Girls and Waikohu fought a nail-biter at Victoria Domain in premier-grade netball on Saturday and Whangara had to come from behind to win it.

Claydens Waikohu (1) led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter, then 19-16 at halftime.

Whangara took the lead with a strong third quarter and held on to win 36-35, which gave Waikohu a richly deserved bonus point for getting so close to what would have been an upset.

“It was a close contest for the full game and could have gone either way,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Waikohu had the better start, with all players positioning themselves well and being available to collect passes. They worked together on defence, and pressured Whangara into errors.

“Whangara made changes at halftime and the team tightened up their defence through the court. A few minutes into the third quarter the three-goal deficit was pegged back and the teams were locked at 21-all.

“From then on it was virtually goal for goal, with every player working hard on attack and defence.”

Taste One High School Old Girls rebounded strongly from their loss to YMP Sunshine Brewing the previous week, and accounted for Ritana Senior A from Lytton High School 32-21.

“This game was not as one-sided as the score might suggest,” Beale said.

“HSOG played their strong, driving netball, but the students had some good passages of play, which made the defending champions work for their goals.”

In the third premier-grade match, YMP overpowered Horouta Gold 32-8.

YMP jumped out to a 9-2 lead after 10 minutes and never looked back. It was 16-5 at halftime and 23-6 at the end of the third quarter.

“Because of the wet conditions, this game was played at a slower pace than is usual under the YMP game plan,” Beale said.

“However, it didn't alter their dominance and they easily outscored Horouta in each quarter.”

Other grade results — A Grade: Taiki 23 Horouta Taimana 12; IMS HSOG Masters 34 Gis Fluid and Machinery HSOG 27; IMS HSOG Masters 41 Horouta Taimana 15; Claydens Waikohu Masters 42 Old Girls Whangara 12; Tatapouri Sportsfit 32 YMP Masters 12.

A Reserve: Gis Denture Clinic HSOG 43 Campion Snr A 39; Tapua 46 YMP Timber Pro 6; Farmlands Ngatapa 27 Claydens Waikohu (2) 19; FarmCare HSOG 22 Whalis 20.

First Grade: Tyre General Ngatapa 42 The Stingerz 20; GGHS Snr B 17 Thistle Storm 13; GGHS Jnr A 34 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 23; Tyre General Ngatapa 32 Thistle Storm 32; Steve Craill Builder Ngtapa 30 OBM Blue 17.

First Reserve/ Second Grade: GGHS TSA 35 OBM Red Social 13; Uawa Kahukuraiti 38 YMP Manawanui 32; Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 18 Gis Glass Ngatapa 18; YMP Manawanui 31 Ritana Toa 25; Kotahi Aroha 38 Thistle Phoenix 12.