Top four have eyes on the finals

Under pressure: Ashlee Maka of Horouta Gold looks for an opening as Nadia Hohipa of Whangara Old Girls presses from behind. Whangara proved too strong on Saturday and Horouta Gold end their season in a respectable equal fifth place. Picture by Paul Rickard

Whangara Old Girls and Waikohu (1) have joined YMP and High School Old Girls in the preliminary finals of the premier grade netball competition.

The Whangara side produced a powerhouse performance on Saturday in the Gisborne YMCA to end Horouta Gold's season.

They were in control through most of the full hour, up 13-10 after 15 minutes, 34-20 at half time, 50-27 at the 45 minute mark and then 67-41 at the end of their Pak'nSave premiership encounter.

“The first quarter was close with both teams making errors, probably through the pressure of the situation they were in,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Whangara continued their speedy movement and passing in the second quarter, but eliminated their earlier errors by improving their timing on to the ball,” she said.

“They continued their dominance for the rest of the match in what was a good team performance with nearly every Whangara player collecting intercepts and goal defence Tania Adamson leading that onslaught.

“Horouta Gold had some good passages of play but Whangara were always in control.

“Ngahuria Akania had a good game in the mid-court by driving to the top of the goal circle, directing passes, resetting play and delivering intelligently into the shooters.”

Whangara Coach Ronnie Martin put it simply afterwards when she said — “I'm glad that's over, now to deal with the next game against YMP on Wednesday night.

“It was good to get today's game under our belts. It was cut-throat, we had to win, and I thought the girls played good netball, with good intensity.

“Here's hoping we can do the same on Wednesday night.

“I think we're ready for it, and I'm sure YMP will be as well.”

Horouta ended their season in fifth-equal place.

“The girls played a lot of good quality netball this season. We came up against an excellent side in Whangara at the end,” said Horouta coach Damian Edwards.

“The result today doesn't reflect how well we played and all the hard work the team put in during the season.

“I thought our captain Paare Ahuriri-Leach led the team really well today.”

The other match was a much closer battle.

Claydens Waikohu (1) beat Tapuae from Wairoa by eight goals.

The Wairoa team led 15-10 at the end of the first quarter, but Waikohu were in the lead 30-24 at half time then ran out 60-52 winners.

“Tapuae made a good start, where the whole team worked together. However Waikohu (1) made some changes, were more settled in the second quarter and outscored Tapuae by 20 goals to 9,” Beale said.

“Waikohu's Panache Hale at wing defence played a part in this, by collecting tips and intercepts, backing up at the transverse line and delivering some good ball into shooter, Arahia Ruru.

“Arahia moved the goal circle well and collected some very good high lobs, which were finished off with a goal.”

Beale said Tapuae made changes too and the next two quarters were closer.

“But Waikohu (1) were determined to keep the lead.

“Tapuae's shooter, Hope Kaihe-Tahuri worked the goal circle well and gave her feeders options as well as directing play in the goal area”

Waikohu (1) co-coach Cheryl Te Rito said her team were really pleased to get through.

“The girls were disappointed with their first quarter but were happy with the rest of the game.

“We'd only played Tapuae once before all seaosn, so we had little to go on.

“They gave a us good fight for the first period of the game, and was a good build-up for our game on Wednesday night,” Te Rito said.

Waikohu (1) meet F45 HSOG in the other preliminary finals to be held on Wednesday.

Tapuae end their season in equal fifth place.