Extra time was needed to separate Whangara and YMP, after they were tied 51-all at the end of normal time.
The quarter scores up to that point tell the story. Whangara were up 12-11, then YMP 30-28, then Whangara 42-38, and then 51-51.
“It was a close game for the full hour, and could have gone either way,” Beale said.
“Both teams worked hard to get the ball in to their shooters, and the players’ connections through the court assisted them.”
For Whangara, Beale picked out Materoa Poi, who started at goal keep.
“Materoa really came alive when she was moved to goal defence in the second half. She was out hunting the ball and putting doubt into the minds of YMP’s feeders.
“She collected some impressive intercepts and delivered some great passes into her attacking end.
“Whangara shooter Sandy Porter kept a cool head and positioned herself well to collect passes and finish off with goals. She was ably assisted in working the goal circle by Reremoana Bartlett-Tamatea and Nadia Whaitiri-White.”
For YMP, she singled out Paku-Jane Skudder.
“At goal shoot, Paku-Jane positioned herself well and collected some pinpoint high lobs, but she also pulled her opponent to the top of the circle and then slipped back to get the flat pass and finish off with goals.
“She urged her team on by directing play and setting an example by working hard in the goal circle — shooting and rebounding.
“Bronya McMenamin, at goal defence, had a strong game, too, and collected many tips and intercepts. She especially stepped up in the fourth quarter, when YMP were down by four. She collected a crucial intercept in the goal circle in the first minute, which lifted the rest of the team.
“Bronya also helped to link both ends, was always available for back-up passes and made the intercept to get the ball down to the circle and take the score to 51-all.
“Then it was extra time — two four-minute quarters. They were virtually goal for goal.”
Whangara were overjoyed to advance to the final.
“The girls were absolutely rapt at the end of that game,” coach Ronnie Martin said.
“It was fairly even the whole way through. The teams were evenly matched.
“There were times there I don’t think I was breathing it was so stressful.
“We were fortunately in front when the final whistle went. It could have gone either way, and we were lucky it went our way at the end.”
In the other match, Claydens Waikohu (1) had the slight early lead at 16-13, which they extended to 29-23 by halftime.
HSOG came back at them in the third quarter to cut the lead to one goal at three-quartertime, 38-37.
“This was another game that could have gone either way,” Beale said.
“Waikohu had got to a six-goal lead at halftime by playing patient netball and passing the ball around to work it into their shooters.
“Shooter Arihia Ruru worked the circle well, especially as she had HSOG defenders Kelly Wood and Alex Sinclair monitoring her every move.
“It looked as if Waikohu (1) would take it away, but the HSOG attackers’ links slipped into play and they delivered some good passes into their shooters to even the score up (30-all) halfway through the third quarter,” Beale said.
“In the last quarter, both teams would pull ahead by two or three goals but the opposition would peg it back.
“Halfway through this quarter, HSOG were leading by one and then it was 43-42 to Waikohu, with five minutes to go.
“High School Old Girls’ Kelly Wood made a crucial intercept in the dying moments to take the score to 45-all . . . and the rest is history.
“HSOG scored the last goal and shattered Waikohu’s hopes of reaching their first final.”
HSOG skipper and coach Alex Sinclair said her girls were thrilled to make the final.
“Waikohu started really well and we had to really knuckle down and fight for the result.
“We just came together as a team, and really connected so well in the final minutes.”
Whangara and HSOG meet at the YMCA at 1pm on Saturday, and the other grades will play their finals at Victoria Domain.
The live-streaming of last night’s games was well done.
The final at the YMCA will be handled the same way, without spectators, but supporters will be able to see all the action on the Gisborne Netball Centre Facebook page.
