Title heavyweights start in style

TIGHT DEFENCE: Whangara Old Girls (1) goal defence Tania Hill puts Horouta Gold goal attack Lexi Rutene under pressure as wing defence Materoa Poi covers space in a premier neball game at Victoria Domain on Saturday. Whangara won 46-20. Picture by Paul Rickard

The big two flexed a bit of muscle to the detriment of Horouta Gold as the Pak'nSave netball season started in earnest on Saturday.

Reigning premier champions YMP Sunshine Brewery and 2020 runners-up Whangara Old Girls (1) brushed aside Horouta to open their grading round accounts.

Horouta faced the daunting task of not only two games but having to face the top two from 2020.

They deserved an A for effort but it was a mountainous ask and they were well beaten in both games — falling 46-20 to Whangara and 46-23 to YMP.

The scorelines suggest the title heavyweights are similarly matched but that will be found out in due course.

Netball commentator Sherrill Beale said the Whangara players looked fit and moved the ball through the court at speed, showing good understanding.

They were equally solid in defence, pressuring every Horouta pass and interrupting their flow.

Whangara led 17-5 at the first quarter break, 25-9 at halftime and 36-16 following the third quarter — Horouta's best stanza of the game.

It was a similar situation in the YMP-Horouta clash. The champs led 13-6, 25-14 and 37-20 through the breaks.

Ritana Senior A fell 25-18 to F45 High School Old Girls in a game that proved tighter than anticipated.

“Both teams had to work hard to get the ball and it was a close contest for the whole game,” Beale said.

The second quarter proved decisive.

The teams finished the opening period locked at 5-5 but HSOG surged in the second quarter for a 15-7 halftime break.

Ritana regrouped and won the third quarter 6-4 to reduce the deficit to 19-13 and the final quarter was keenly contested.

Claydens Waikohu (1) have retained a good number of players from last year and it showed in their 42-27 win against Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls' High Senior A.

“This game wasn't as close as predicted,” Beale said. “It started off close but Claydens Waikohu were more settled in the second quarter and pulled away.

“GGHS have retained several of last year's players but they are also working in new, young players.”

Waikohu were 11-9 in front after the first quarter, increased their lead to 22-17 at halftime and extended it with a dominant third quarter to be 34-23 up.

Premier Reserve: Waikohu Masters 32 OG Whangara 27, Tapaue 32 Taiki 19, YMP Masters 29 Tatapouri Sportsfit 26.

A Grade: McLeods Concreting HSOG 27 YMP (2) 23, Horouta Taimana 43 Whalis 29, Ngatapa Red 34 FarmCare HSOG 21.

A Reserve: Ngatapa Green 26 GGHS Snr B 23, Campion Snr A 26 GGHS Korihi 10, Claydens Waikohu (2) 43 Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 22.

1st Grade: Thistle Storm 39 Ngatapa Pink 12, OBM Blue 28 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 14, GGHS Jnr A 35 Ngatapa White 17.

1st Reserve: HSOG Wahine Hauora 36 Ngatapa Yellow 19 ,Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 31 GGHS TSA 4, Kotahi Aroha 31 XLR8 16.

2nd Grade: Waikohu (4) 30 OBM Red Social 22, Uawa Kahukuraiti 26 Thistle Phoenix 12.