Playoffs give everyone a chance

EYES ON FINALS: Nardia Whaitiri-White (left) and Quiesha Panapa-King meet in an earlier hard contest between Whangara and Tapuae. Tapuae play tomorrow and Whangara hit the court next Wednesday. Pictures by Paul Rickard

The playoffs begin tomorrow to choose which teams will face off this month to decide the Gisborne netball championships, and YMP look to be in the box seat.

But due to the structure of the playoffs this year all eight teams still have a chance to make the grand final in premier grade.

The ball starts rolling when YMP Sunshine Brewery take on Claydens Waikohu 1 at 9am in the Gisborne YMCA tomorrow morning in the first of the Pakn'Save competition semi-finals.

“When those two teams met last Saturday YMP took out a comprehensive win,” said netball commentator Sherrill Beale.

“They are looking strong and have been playing some slick netball with all players working together on attack and defence.

“Waikohu 1 will need to bring their top game in the morning if they want to stop YMP's flow.”

The winner goes straight through to preliminary finals on August 18.

The loser will play the winner of the second playoffs match at 10.30am tomorrow.

That game involves Tapuae in action against Claydens Waikohu 3.

“I am expecting a close game there,” Beale said.

“Their last game was competitive to the last whistle with Tapuae sneaking through by just four goals.”

The Waikohu 3 lineup will no doubt be buoyed by their good win against Horouta on Wednesday night at the ‘Y'.

“Both Waikohu 3 and Tapuae were promoted to premier grade and would like to finish their season as high up the ladder as they can,” Beale said.

Tapuae finished the round-robin phase of the competition in fifth spot and Waikohu 3 were eighth.

“Both teams will be determined to take this win.”

For the losers of the game the season ends.

The other four teams in the premier grade face off in the YMCA next Wednesday night.

The winner of game three in the semi-finals that night between Horouta Gold and Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls High will play the losers of the second match that night between Whangara Old Girls and F45 High School Old Girls.

The season ends for the losers in the Horouta-Girls High clash.

The winners of the Whangara and HSOG game will also progress straight through to the preliminary finals on August 18.

The other teams still in the running will play off in the elimination finals on Saturday, August 14.

“We have structured the playoffs this way to give every team, including all the bottom four, a chance to make the grand final later this month,” said Netball Centre manager Allisa Hall. “It gives all the teams a second chance.”