Top two teams still unbeaten

Netball GHS v Waikohu - Aarika Ruru, Natasha Porter

THE two top teams in Gisborne premier grade netball remain locked together on the points table after both secured convincing wins at the YMCA last night.

In the first of the Pak'nSave competition games, Claydens Waikohu (1) beat Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls' High School Senior A 51-44.

Waikohu led all the way — 14-8, 29-23 and 37-34.

The game started goal for goal with both teams' players moving the ball through the court well.

Near the end of the first quarter, Waikohu attackers Jessica Ruru and Aarika Ruru stepped up a notch, drove to the top of the goal circle and delivered some speedy passes in to shooters Ashleigh Smith and Arihia Tuhua, and the team started to pull ahead.

They were 10 ahead halfway through the second quarter so it was to the students' credit that they steadied themselves and withstood the pressure to pull the deficit back to three goals by the end of the third quarter.

Waikohu started the final quarter strongly, worked together in the midcourt to pressure the students into errors, scored a few goals in a row and kept the lead to the end of the game.

Both teams' goal keeps, Naomi Alovili of Waikohu and Joaquina Kaa of Girls' High, had good games. They both went hunting the ball and collected some impressive intercepts.

Waikohu remain unbeaten at the top of the table.

In the other match last night, YMP (1) trounced F45 High School Old Girls 69-45, and led all the way — 18-11, 34-21 and 49-34.

YMP started the game strongly and led 6-1 before HSOG settled and then scored five goals in a row to draw level at 8-8, midway through the quarter.

But that was the closest High School Old Girls got to leading as YMP put their foot down and powered away at each quarter.

YMP attackers — Anatea Taituha, Grace Tahuri, Sydney Rore and Lyric Wesche in different quarters — worked together, running on to the passes and moving the ball at speed in to their shooters.

The shooters — Paku-Jane Skudder, Jayda Banks and Keasi Fonohema in different quarters — positioned themselves in the goal circle to collect the fast ball or high lob and finished off with goals.

When given the chance, HSOG had some good passages of play but YMP were too strong for them last night.

YMP also remain unbeaten at the top of the table.

Waikohu and YMP play each other next week.