Senior netball playoffs determine finalists

Finger tips on the ball: Gisborne Girls' High School goalkeeper Joaquina Kaa has her fingers on the ball as YMP wing attack Ngahuia Mita attempts to get her hands on it. YMP beat Horouta on Saturday 25-24. Picture by Paul Rickard

Competition was fierce in the senior netball playoffs at Victoria Domain on Saturday.

Both Premier Reserve semifinals in the Pak'nSave competition were decided by a single goal.

YMP Masters edged JT Contractors Horouta Taimana 25-24 in one game after Taimana had led for three-quarters of the game — 6-7, 9-14, 15-19 and 25-24.

The wily heads of two experienced teams were at work as they tried to get the ball to their shooters.

YMP Masters had a strong last quarter (10-5) and took the win in the last minute.

​In the other Premier Reserve semifinal, Farmlands Ngatapa got home 20-19 against East Coast Log Haulage High School Old Girls. The quarter scores show what a hard-fought game it was — 8-3, 15-6, 17-13 and 20-19.

Both teams finished the round on the same points.

It looked as if Ngatapa would pull away as they were working together well through the court and had a good lead at halftime.

However, HSOG picked up their game in the second half and slowly pulled the deficit back. The last quarter was almost goal for goal.

Three Ngatapa teams will contest finals next weekend — in Prem Reserve, A Reserve and First Grade.

High School Old Girls will have three teams in finals — in the A Grade, First Grade and First Reserve.

Claydens Waikohu have two teams contesting finals — in the Premier Grade and Second Grade.

The “walking netball” exhibition game at Victoria Domain on Saturday was well attended and competitors had a lot of fun.

It certainly is harder than you'd think, as you must have one foot on the ground at all times and this means you cannot run or jump.

However, your natural instinct is to do the opposite when a ball is flying down the court or overhead.

It also means your passing has to be precise as your teammate will not be running into space to collect a pass.

Players can fast-walk, stretch overhead and control their passing, and competitors' skills improved as the game progressed.

Well done, Gisborne Netball Centre, for displaying another facet of the game we love.

Results — Prem Reserve: Farmlands Ngatapa 20 East Coast Log Haulage HSOG 19, YMP Masters 25 JT Contractors Horouta Taimana 24, Old Girls Whangara 26 YMP (2) 23. (Top four decided their games by one goal)

YMP Masters play Farmlands Ngatapa in the final. JT Contractors Horouta Taimana and East Coast Log Haulage HSOG finish their season third equal, Old Girls Whangara fifth and YMP (2) sixth.

A Grade: Claydens Waikohu (2) defeated Ritana Snr A by default, Enterprise Cars OBM Blue 24 Claydens Waikohu (3) 19, FarmCare HSOG 33 The Tav Sportsfit 27.

FarmCare HSOG play Enterprise Cars OBM Blue in the final. Claydens Waikohu (3) and The Tav Sportsfit finish their season third equal, Claydens Waikohu (2) fifth and Ritana Snr A sixth.

A Reserve: Whalis 27 Pharmacy 53 Campion/NUAM 19, GGHS Jnr A 35 YMP Hine Taiohi 8, Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 26 GGHS Snr B 14.

Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa play Whalis in the final. Pharmacy 53 Campion/NUAM and GGHS Snr B finish their season third equal, GGHS Jnr A fifth and YMP Hine Taiohi sixth.

First Grade: Thistle Storm 23 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 21, Zeafruit Ngatapa 17 Gis Glass Ngatapa 13, Ferkins Farming HSOG 26 Tyre General Ngatapa 23.

Ferkins Farming HSOG play Zeafruit Ngatapa in the final. Gis Glass Ngatapa and Tyre General Ngatapa finish their season third equal, Thistle Storm fifth and Uawa Ngarangikahiwa sixth.

First Reserve: JT Contractors Horouta Hiriwa 29 Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 22, OBM Red 26 Uawa Nui 19, Wahine Hauora HSOG 23 Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 20.

JT Contractors Horouta Hiriwa play Wahine Hauora HSOG in the final. Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) and Tatapouri Sportsfit Social finish their season third equal, OBM Red fifth and Uawa Nui sixth.

2nd Grade: YMP Manawanui 22 De Costa Ngatapa 17, Claydens Waikohu (4) 30 Thistle Phoenix 8, XLR8 33 DMED 20.

Claydens Waikohu (4) play XLR8 in the final. Thistle Phoenix and DMED finish their season third equal, YMP Manawanui fifth and De Costa Ngatapa sixth.

The premier grade games at the YMCA on Wednesday night will be previewed in The Herald tomorrow.