Pre-season victory for YMP Whanau

AERIAL CONTEST: YMP Whanau goal defence Sydney Rore and Waikohu goal shoot Karen Matiaha contest possession. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

THE hot weather on Saturday was reflected on the courts of Victoria Domain when the Kathleen Henderson Memorial Shield netball tournament produced hot, exciting play across all four grades.

The major trophy in the Pak’nSave pre-season netball event was hoisted by YMP Whanau, who went through their A Grade games unbeaten.

“Although YMP Whanau won all their games, they beat Tairawhiti Prems by only one goal — 12-11,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

The YMP outfit had some of last year’s YMP premier team on court for them.

“Paku-Jane Skudder, Bronya McMenamin and Sydney Rore provided strength through the court,” Beale said.

The YMP Whanau scores against the other teams were: Ritana, 18-9; Claydens Waikohu, 18-13; and Horouta Gold, 16-8.

Beale said the weather made for a testing day on and off the court.

“It was very hot, so teams rotated their players at the breaks,” she said.

“I would think the coaches used this tournament to try out combinations.

“Everyone was hunting for shade and it was great to see many teams setting up gazebos for the day.”

Taiki won the B Grade and picked up the Patsy Burke Memorial Shield, with Nina’s Kitchen High School Old Girls the runners-up.

“Taiki won four games from four,” Beale said.

“HSOG had only one loss, which was to Taiki by five goals.”

The C Grade title went to Uawa Hinematioro.

“Uawa won all of their games,” Beale said.

“Their game against YMP (2) was close, 13-11.”

Waikohu (2) won the D Grade title.

“Waikohu (2) successfully defended this title but had to work hard for an 18-16 win against the Tairawhiti under-13s.”

Beale said most of the teams used their benches well and regularly subbed players to try different combinations.

“Competition games for seniors and grading games for secondary and intermediate start in two weeks — March 30.”

Results —

A Grade winners, Kathleen Henderson Memorial Shield: YMP Whanau. Runners-up, Carmichael Trophy: Tairawhiti Prems.

B Grade winners, Patsy Burke Memorial Shield: Taiki. Runners-up, Carr Cup: Nina’s Kitchen High School Old Girls.

C Grade winners, Elizabeth Crawford Memorial Shield: Uawa Hinematioro. Runners-up, Poverty Bay Umpires Cup: YMP (2).

D Grade winners, Dawn Gallagher Memorial Shield: Claydens Waikohu (2). Runners-up, Bobbie Hunter Cup: Tairawhiti under-13s.