Students put on a fighting show,Waikohu rediscover ‘attacking mojo’

CLAYDENS Waikohu rediscovered their attacking mojo in premier-grade netball last night and opponents Gisborne Girls’ High School helped them do it with a determined effort.

Waikohu started strongly and led 17-11 at the end of the first quarter, then 37-18 at halftime.

Girls’ High came back at them in the third quarter and Waikohu managed only a two-goal margin (49-28), but Waikohu charged again and won the final quarter 16-6.

The final scoreline of 65-34 clearly indicated how the game went — Waikohu played very well.

“It was certainly a lot better than last Saturday’s performance against Horouta Gold,” Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said.

“The flow was there and the girls got their confidence back after the Horouta loss.

“Girls’ High, with some players missing, played really well.”

Waikohu captain Missy Ruru said it was a really good game.

“Girls’ High gave 100 percent and tonight helped us. We got to use some different combinations and everyone worked hard.”

Te Rito made special mention of Atlee Wainohu at wing and goal attack, and goal shoot Toni Rutene, who was an effervescent presence in the circle. She put on a fine show of soft-hands shooting.

Despite the loss, Girls’ High coach Dianah Foley again had a smile on her face afterwards.

“I was really rapt with the girls tonight. It was a good game.

“We were short six players and used players from our under-15s and the Service Academy team.

“They all gelled together so well.

“The whole team played like they had nothing to lose, and that third quarter was special.”

She picked out goal keep Naomi Alovili and goal defence Reace McBeth for standout games, along with goal shoot Maia Cudd.

In the other game last night, Taste One High School Old Girls beat a depleted Lytton Senior A side 49-38.

HSOG led throughout but Lytton battled on and had some good moments.

The winners led 13-8 after 15 minutes, 23-15 after 30, and 36-24 after 45.

“It was good for the girls to have a win, but we should have won by a bigger margin,” HSOG coach Naomi Whitewood said.

“Lytton played some nice defence and were always attacking the ball.

“Ashleigh Brown, our goal shoot, shot 95 percent, which was fantastic to see.

“Tania Owen, at centre, was another to stand out and goal keep Alex Sinclair was strong for us, snapping up some nice intercepts.

“She is doing really well, considering she has only just come back into the team.”

Lytton were without dynamic goal shoot Mania Hutana last night, along with influential wing attack Riata Maynard.

“We missed those girls tonight,” coach Ronnie Martin said.

“We lacked a really effective attack. The girls did not get the ball through court well, and we paid for it.

“Ruby Westrupp (goal defence) and Elenoa Seruwaqa (goal keep) performed well, as did Taley-Jade Kemp. It was one of her better games.”