Top two seeking direct route to final

MIDCOURT ACTION: High School Old Girls centre Katie Kirkpatrick (right) prepares to gather the ball, with Horouta Gold wing defence Dayna Green in close attendance. Both teams are in action at the YMCA tomorrow night, HSOG against YMP and Horouta against Gisborne Girls’ High School. Picture by Paul Rickard

Top-of-the-table YMP and second-placed High School Old Girls will fight it out at the YMCA tomorrow night to see who goes straight through to the Pak’nSave premier grade netball grand final . . . and what a battle it promises to be.

Just four goals separated the teams last time they played and they resume their battle tomorrow night at 7.30pm.

“This will be an exciting game to decide one of our premier finalists,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“YMP Sunshine Brewery and Taste One HSOG last played each other on August 1 to decide the top of the grade, and YMP won a very close game that was close for the full hour.

“There were some very good netball skills shown in that game and I expect the same tomorrow night.”

The winners go straight through to the final while the losers get another chance, by playing the winners of the second semifinal the following Wednesday.

HSOG coach Tanya Owen said they had done their homework and had a game plan.

“It is just a matter of implementing it and being consistent,” she said.

“The girls are naturally excited and they are well aware they have to step things up now we are in the semifinals.”

She expects YMP to come out firing.

“We expect that and we need to be prepared for it. I think the team are ready for it.”

YMP coach Ingrid Brown said that now the business end of the season had arrived, it was about working harder and playing harder.

“We have belief in our squad and know they are ready,” she said.

“Communication, capitalising on our defensive turnovers and dominating the ball through court are key for our game tomorrow night.

“Babe Kutia and I will be reinforcing to our squad the message that they must be tight on defence and smart on attack.

“HSOG are very strong contenders and they will bring their all to the game on Wednesday.”

The other game tomorrow night, at 6pm, will be between the fifth- and seventh-ranked teams, Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A and Horouta Gold.

Girls’ High had a chance to make the top four, but on Saturday they could not contain Claydens Waikohu, who went through in fourth spot.

“The students will be smarting at not taking the win on Saturday,” Beale said.

“They have been playing some great netball in the latter part of the season, so Horouta Gold will need their top game tomorrow night to stay with them.”

The winners go through to the bottom-three final, and the losers play Lytton Senior A for the other spot in the bottom-three final.