Victories no walk in the park

AERIAL GRACE: Waikohu goal defence Ruby Tuapawa gathers the ball as YMP wing attack Hine Hubbard looks to apply pressure in a Gisborne premier netball game that YMP won 52-45. Picture by Paul Rickard

YMP and High School Old Girls won their first games in the second round of the Pak’nSave premier grade netball at the YMCA on Saturday, but their opponents made a fight of it.

YMP Sunshine Brewery defeated Claydens Waikohu 52-45 but were outscored in two of the quarters.

Waikohu led 12-9 after 15 minutes but YMP led 26-19 at halftime, and 40-29 at three-quartertime.

“It was a competitive game,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Both teams pressured the opposition’s ball carrier and caused turnovers.

“Both had their chances. YMP were up by 11 at one stage, but Waikohu’s tenacity pulled it back.”

The centres — YMP’s Ata Mangu and Waikohu’s Stormy Merritt — had a good contest, Beale said.

YMP coach Ingrid Brown said it wasn’t the start to the competition she predicted, but they would “bank the points”.

“I felt it was a pretty even game at times,” she said.

“I was really happy with the good things we achieved, like the quick release of ball and the defence bringing the ball through court.

“But at times we lacked some intensity and drive to the ball, areas we need to tidy up,” Brown said.

Merritt was outstanding at centre for Waikohu.

“I have never really played there before, so it’s challenging,” she said.

“It’s good to play in a different position, but it is really hard and I’m still trying to find my feet. I hope I will get there.”

Coach Cheryl Te Rito said she believed Merritt would “get there”.

“Stormy just needs to slow her play down a bit. I never thought I would say that about a centre.

“Overall it was good to win two of the quarters, but we’ve just got to tidy up our game and get a bit more fitness, which is something we’re working hard on,” Te Rito said.

In the other premier match, Taste One HSOG beat Horouta Gold 59-46.

“HSOG were strong,” Beale said.

“Their understanding between players develops well and it especially shows when changes get made. There was no drop off in the links.

“For HSOG, Kelly Swann-Ferris at goal defence had a good game, hunting the ball. She combined well with Sara Cox at goal keep and they made it hard for Horouta Gold to feed their shooters.”

Beale said the HSOG attackers were developing their links well.

“They are speedy down the court and deliver some good ball into the shooters — Natalie Knight, Ashleigh Brown and Lisa Burford.”

HSOG coach Tanya Owen said she was pleased to get everyone in her squad on to the court.

“I was also certainly happy with the result.”

Horouta coach Claire Campbell said she was really pleased with her girls.

“We didn’t have the player numbers we had in the challenge round, so the girls who played didn’t get much of a rest,” she said.

“But I am really happy with the way they stayed in the game for the full hour and looked after each other.”

She singled out Clare Mason, who filled in from their A Grade side at goal keep.