Waikohu, Horouta in challenge round

Ball secured: YMP goal attack Malia Eyles (left) receives the ball under pressure from Whangara goal defence Trish Thomas. YMP won 33-31.Picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

LYTTON High School’s strong performance against Whangara Old Girls, where they went within a whisker of a major upset, and two fine wins to Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A were highlights of netball grading games on Saturday.

As a result of the final series of games, premier sides Claydens Waikohu and Horouta Gold go into the challenge round.

Lytton jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the first quarter against Whangara, then led 19-13 at halftime.

But by three-quartertime, Whangara had clawed their way back into the contest and it was 25-all.

The teams went goal for goal through the final quarter until a costly turnover with a minute to play led to Whangara taking the lead and winning 35-34.

“That was well done by the Lytton girls,” Lytton and Whangara coach Ronnie Martin said.

“They worked their guts out the whole game and just about had the win.

“A bit more experience for Whangara made the difference in the end.”

Earlier, Whangara lost to defending champions YMP (1) 33-31 in a messy game.

“They were five or six goals up and we pulled it back, but in the end ball security cost us,” Martin said.

“Whangara can do better and we will. But then I reckon YMP will be saying the same thing.”

YMP coach Ingrid Brown said that while it was good to get a win, her team still had things to work on.

“There’s still some work needed but we know what it is we have to work on,” Brown said.

YMP’s second win was clear-cut. They beat Lytton Senior A 41-29.

GGHS beat Horouta Gold 28-27 and Claydens Waikohu 27-21Gisborne Girls’ High School had a terrific morning, beating Horouta Gold 28-27 and Claydens Waikohu 27-21.

“We are a new group and the girls are still getting used to each other, but they are getting there, as the results today show,” Girls’ High coach Irene Takao said.

“They want to be a different team from last year, and that’s all about building confidence and self-belief.”

Horouta Gold fought hard for a result, as the quarter scores show — Girls’ High were up 7-4, then 13-12, 21-19 and 28-27.

“It was a pleasing effort, given how well Girls’ High have been playing,” Horouta veteran Challise Rutene said.

“Irene is doing a wonderful job with those girls.”

For Horouta, it means a place in the challenge round, where they will take on IMS High School Old Girls Masters on Wednesday night in the YMCA.

And after their losses on Saturday, Claydens Waikohu will play Tatapouri Sportsfit in the other challenge match.

Taste One HSOG beat them 33-24, and they lost to Girls’ High.

“It was our own silly errors that cost us, particularly in the Girls’ High game,” Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito said.

“But our play is looking better and we are starting to come together as a team.

“We have the talent; we’ve just got to get it clicking.”

The points table at the end of Round 1: YMP (1) 20, Whangara OG 18, Taste One HSOG 17, GGHS Snr A 16, Lytton Snr A 9, Horouta Gold 7, Claydens Waikohu (1) 4.

Other grade results — A Grade: Horouta Taimana 35 Old Girls Whangara 35, Taiki 44 Farmlands Ngatapa 26, Tatapouri Sportsfit 30 Earthwork Solutions HSOG 24, IMS HSOG Masters 37 Campion Snr A 30, Whalis 42 Horouta Taimana 31, Old Girls Whangara 34 Taiki 26, IMS HSOG Masters 24 Earthwork Solutions HSOG 23*, Farmlands Ngatapa 30 Campion Snr A 29*, Tatapouri Sportsfit 37 Whalis 35*.

Tatapouri Sportsfit and IMS HSOG finished top of the grade and will challenge for premier grade.

A Reserve: YMP (2) 43 Whatatutu 36, GGHS Snr B def Ahi Kaa by default, Whatatutu 44 GGHS Snr B 27, YMP (2) 34 OBM Blue 32*, Horouta Hiriwa 32 XLR8 24.

YMP (2) and Horouta Hiriwa finished top of the grade and will challenge A Grade.

First Grade: Uawa 39 Kotahi Aroha 25, Claydens Waikohu (2) 30 Lytton B 17, Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 31 GGHS Jnr A 19, FarmCare HSOG 31 Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 21, Lytton B 40 Kotahi Aroha 24, FarmCare HSOG 33 Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 18.

Claydens Waikohu (2) and Uawa finished top of the grade and will challenge A Reserve Grade.

First Reserve: Gisborne Denture Clinic HSOG def YMP Manawanui by default, Rovers def Tawhiti by default, Thistle Storm 30 OBM Red Masters 21, GHS TSA def YMP Manawanui by default, Thistle Storm def Tawhiti by default.

Gisborne Denture Clinic HSOG and Thistle Storm finished top of the grade and will challenge First Grade.

Second Grade: Matawai United 39 OBM White Social 12, Thistle Phoenix def Claydens Waihohu (3) be default, Steve Craill Builders Ngatapa 27 Puawai Tuturu 17, Thistle Phoenix 28 GGHS (3) 24, Matawai United 37 Claydens Waikohu (3) 10, Puawai Tuturu 28 OBM White Social 21.

Matawai United and Steve Craill Builders Ngatapa finished top of the grade and will challenge First Reserve.

The challenge round games for the other grades will be on Saturday, May 5.