Showcasing the best

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

Premier-grade netball will be played outdoors on Victoria Domain tomorrow as the netball centre looks to present their top teams to a wider audience.

The move follows years of premier-grade games being played indoors at the YMCA.

“This is a one-off for this weekend as a trial, after a suggestion put before the board,” centre manager Allisa Hall said.

“Doing it exposes the top teams to our younger players, who might not necessarily go over to the YMCA to see them play.”

Hall said the move would be evaluated with a view to doing it again next season.

Three premier games will be played outdoors tomorrow.

At 9am, YMP Sunshine Brewery take on Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A.

“YMP played well as a team last week and moved the ball through the court at speed,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“The students gave glimpses of their team working together on Wednesday night against Taste One High School Old Girls, but they will need to work together for the whole hour if they want this win.”

At 10.30am, Lytton Senior A play Claydens Waikohu (1).

“I am expecting this to be close and very competitive,” Beale said.

The students won by 10 goals the last time these teams met.

“However, Claydens Waikohu (1) have turned their play around and have been playing some great netball in the past few games.”

Their 46-45 victory over Whangara Old Girls last week was the result of the year so far.

“Both Lytton and Waikohu will have their supporters out in force, so it should be a great sideline atmosphere,” Beale said.

Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said she was feeling pretty good about tomorrow’s game.

“After the girls’ last performance against Whangara, we feel a lot more confident,” she said.

“We certainly hope to reverse the result from last time they played us, when the Lytton girls won well.”

In the third match, at 12.10pm, Whangara Old Girls go up against Horouta Gold.

Horouta Gold pipped Whangara Old Girls by a single goal in a grading match.

“Horouta Gold have struggled a little since then,” Beale said.

“They will need to have the team working together for the full hour to stand a chance of taking this one.”