Underdogs out to turn the tables

?NETBALL

WAIKOHU have had the wood on Whangara Old Girls twice this season, but would be wise not to take them lightly when they meet in premier-grade netball tomorrow night.

This Pak’nSave competition game — at the YMCA at 6pm tomorrow — should be closer than their last two clashes.

In grading, Claydens Waikohu beat Whangara Old Girls 28-21 and in the second round they beat them 56-47.

“I expect a close game tomorrow night between these teams,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Both teams have been pushed by the high school teams in recent games. Waikohu had a close win against Girls’ High and Whangara lost to Ritana.

“Both teams will have worked on their errors and I expect them to come out firing. It should be a thrilling game.”

The second match, at 7.30pm, also has real appeal.

Taste One High School Old Girls take on Ritana Senior A, with the students fresh from their outstanding win against Whangara last Wednesday night.

The Lytton team will have taken a lot of confidence from that result, particularly from the way they were able to unsettle Whangara’s attack.

Like Girls’ High against HSOG at the weekend, Ritana will be keen to make up for a Round 2 thumping at the hands of High School Old Girls — 81-42 — in May.

Ritana will want to disrupt the “invisible thread” that HSOG showed in the May match and that enables them to play with a terrific flow through court.

“High School Old Girls have strong links between their players and they like to move the ball speedily through the court, like they did against Ritana last time,” Beale said.

“But the students played as a team for the whole hour last week.

“They will need to do the same tomorrow night if they want to stop High School Old Girls’ flow.”