Three premier teams have winning starts

SCRAMBLE: Ritana goal keep Te Aria Henwood (left) and Whangara Old Girls goal attack Nadia Taare contest possession. Picture by Paul Rickard

High School Old Girls, YMP and Whangara Old Girls made winning starts to the rejigged premier-grade netball competition at Victoria Domain on Saturday, and YMP won twice.

As it turned out, the weather was kinder than predicted and the intermittent drizzle disappeared for the third and fourth games.

“Our netball whanau were happy to catch up with each other again,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

Whangara started their PAK'nSAVE premier-grade season with a 24-19 victory over Lytton's Ritana Senior A.

It was a much closer outcome than predicted, the quarter scores being 6-5, 8-12, 16-15, 24-19.

“Second seeds Whangara did not have an easy win,” Beale said.

“Ritana have retained a good number of last year's squad and the connections between players were evident at times, especially in the first half . . . they led by four at halftime.”

Whangara were more settled in the second half and slowly pulled back the deficit to take the win.

YMP Sunshine Brewing defeated Horouta Gold 31-16.

“Both teams have retained a good number of last year's squads and the game was very close up to halftime,” Beale said.

“Then, some strong team defence by YMP helped them pull away.”

Taste One HSOG beat Gisborne Girls' High School Senior A 35-28.

They were up 21-11 at halftime but the students came back at them in the final period.

“The defending champions made a good start to the season,” Beale said.

“Their understanding between players is developing well and they were able to move the ball through the court at speed.

“Girls' High started the game hesitantly, but after they calmed their nerves they began to let the ball go and managed to keep in touch with the opposition.”

YMP were too strong for Claydens Waikohu (1) and ran out 26-16 winners.

“It was an even first half between two teams who know each other's play well,” Beale said.

“YMP were more dominant in the second half and capitalised on errors by Waikohu to take the win.”

Waikohu Masters 40 Taiki 24; IMS HSOG Masters 33 YMP Masters 31; Tatapouri Sportsfit (TS) 32 Old Girls Whangara 11; Gisborne Fluid and Machinery HSOG 26 Horouta Taimana 25; HSOG Masters 40 Old Girls Whangara 10.

Whalis 40 Gisborne Denture Clinic HSOG 19; Farmlands Ngatapa 22 FarmCare HSOG 19; Ngatapa 42 Whalis 28; Waikohu (2) 33 Campion Snr A 20; Tapuae 29 YMP TimberPro 15.

Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 32 The Stingerz 11; Thistle Storm 25 Steve Craill Builders (SCB) Ngatapa 23; OBM Blue 22 GGHS Snr B 21; Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 21 SCB Ngatapa 20; GGHS Jnr A 35 Tyre General Ngatapa 10.

Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 16 GGHS TSA 16; Thistle Phoenix 25 OBM Red Social 24; Uawa Kahukuraiti 28 Ritana Toa 18; Ngatapa 25 OBM Red Social 14; Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 31 Kotahi Aroha 20.