Runaway win and arm wrestle on the cards

AT FULL STRETCH: Horouta Gold goal attack Aroha Brown (left) and YMP wing defence Renee Wikaire in premier-grade netball action. The teams meet again at the YMCA tomorrow night. Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

THE first of two nights of premier-grade netball action at the YMCA tomorrow night promises a potential runaway victory in one match and a close battle in the other, based on recent results.

The Pak’nSave netball competition takes a break this weekend, and premier-grade matches have been scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday nights.

Tomorrow night’s games start at 6pm, when Whangara Old Girls play Claydens Waikohu.

“Whangara have been a little inconsistent of late but are following on from a good win against Horouta Gold last week,” netball centre manager Allisa Hall said.

“Claydens Waikohu are on the rise and will be hungry for a win.”

Waikohu went within one goal of a draw against Taste One High School Old Girls on Saturday.

“I expect tomorrow night’s Whangara-Waikohu clash will be another close match,” Hall said.

“The winner will be the team better able to look after their own possession.”

The second match tomorrow night has a different feel to it.

At 7.30pm, YMP Sunshine Brewery take on Horouta Gold.

“Horouta have had a bit of an unsettled season with a lot of team changes,” Hall said.

“If Horouta don’t have a full squad, then YMP could well run away with it, if YMP can return to the game consistency they had earlier in the round.”

On Thursday night, one of the most eagerly awaited games of the round will be played.

Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A and Lytton Senior A take the YMCA court with school pride on the line. It will be a cracking game.

Unlike last season, the form pendulum has swung firmly in favour of Girls’ High.

Irene Takao’s girls have produced some stunning performances recently, beating top-ranked teams YMP and High School Old Girls.

They must be firm favourites to defeat Lytton on Thursday night.

The match starts at 6pm.