Premier-grade semi-final too close to call

SUDDEN DEATH: Taste One High School Old Girls goal defence Kelly Swann-Ferris gets to the ball before YMP Sunshine Brewery goal attack Kellann Kemp. HSOG face a sudden-death premier-grade semifinal against Claydens Waikohu (1) at the YMCA tomorrow (7.30pm) to decide who will play YMP in the grand final. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

CONSISTENCY versus timely form are key factors to consider when it comes to tomorrow night’s premier-grade semifinal in the YMCA.

Taste One High School Old Girls and Claydens Waikohu (1) meet at 7.30pm to decide who joins YMP Sunshine Brewery in the grand final of the Pak’nSave premier competition.

There are no clear favourites. This one is too close to call.

HSOG have been more consistent over the season but Waikohu have come on like a train in the past month.

“HSOG have won all three games between these teams this season, however, the last game, a month ago, was won by only one goal,” said commentator Sherrill Beale.

“Add to that the pressure of the winners moving to the final and the losers ending their season in third place, and this should be a closely-contested game.”

Beale said HSOG played well in their 1 v 2 semifinal against YMP last week.

They made a couple of crucial mistakes under pressure in a 44-41 loss “so they will want another chance to prove they can be Gisborne’s top team”.

Waikohu worked together strongly as a team in defeating Whangara Old Girls 60-46 in their 3 v 4 knockout semifinal on Saturday.

“If Waikohu can produce the same level of performance, HSOG will have to work for every pass.”

Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said her team were “more than ready for it”.

“They are really looking forward to it and I know they will take the game in their stride.”

Te Rito was happy with the team’s progress in recent weeks.

“To be honest, we did not think we would get this far, having had such an up-and-down season. But right now we are up . . . and I feel the girls are peaking at the time they need to.”

Te Rito said Waikohu winning the Poverty Bay premier men’s rugby championship had a lot to do with the lift in her team.

“The girls want to try to do the same thing for our Waikohu club. The boys gave them a really big incentive.”

HSOG coach Tanya Owen said her team were also ready for the semifinal.

“The girls are all excited. They know it’s do or die and it is going to come down to who wants it more.”

A number of missed shots in the final quarter last Wednesday night cost HSOG, so it is vital they ease the pressure as much as possible by providing their shooters quality ball.

“Our focus has remained the same since Wednesday,” Owen said.

“This is a big game for the girls and they want it. We have to treat it like the final and that is our focus.”

Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A and their Lytton High counterparts will play off for fifth place at 6pm.

“These two teams have had close games this season,” said Beale. “Lytton have won two out of three but the last time was only by a goal.

“I expect another competitive game between our top two schools.”