Waikohu on the cusp of top four

ON THE MOVE: Claydens Waikohu goal defence Jasmine Black looks upcourt while chased by Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A goal attack Sophie Twigley. Waikohu won the premier-grade netball game 62-35 at the YMCA on Saturday to stay well in the hunt for a top-four place. Picture by Paul Rickard

CLAYDENS Waikohu are on the verge of making premier-grade netball’s top four after a 62-35 win against Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A on Saturday.

The win, in what was Waikohu’s last points competition game of the Gisborne Pak’nSave premier competition, lifted them to third on 27 points in the race for the last two available top-four spots.

The top two spots are already taken by YMP (1), who have 41pts with one game to go, and Whangara Old Girls, who have 30pts with one game to go.

Waikohu (27pts, no games to go) are now third, followed by Horouta Gold (25pts, one game), IMS HSOG (20pts, two games), GGHS (17pts, no games) and Farmlands Ngatapa (6pts, one game).

Back-and-forth play characterised the first quarter of Saturday’s only premier-grade game at the YMCA until Waikohu swung into action.

With Waikohu picking up their defensive play, Girls’ High struggled to feed the ball into their attacking circle.

In contrast, Waikohu’s midcourt had no problem delivering the ball into the steady hands of accurate goal shoot Ani Tiko.

She formed a powerful combination with goal attack Toni Rutene, whose ability to find space at the top of the circle made it difficult for the students.

Girls' High strugglingWith Girls’ High struggling under pressure in their own goal third, some missed shots became turnovers and Waikohu closed out the quarter 16-9 ahead.

The students put up a fight in the second quarter. Aroha McLaren came in at goal keep and gave Tiko a duel in the circle, the aggressive young defender executing two rousing intercepts early in the quarter.

Inspired by her play, the students picked up their through-court formations and started to feed the ball more efficiently into the circle.

However, defensive pressure appeared to rattle the nerves of the Girls’ High shooters and Waikohu took a 15-goal lead (34-19) into halftime.

Waikohu’s defence, led by goal keep Storm Merritt, continued to shut down Girls’ High in the third quarter.

Merritt pulled off one particularly impressive piece of play, tipping the ball into a teammate’s hands as Merritt fell out of court,

Waikohu’s dominance forced more mistakes and turnovers, and by the end of the quarter they had almost doubled their lead . . . 51-26.

A McLaren intercept at the start of the fourth quarter ignited the students for a short period before Waikohu once again assumed control.

Waikohu coach Cheryl Te Rito was a mixture of emotions.

“I’m so relieved and really excited for the girls,” she said.

“It’s the first time we might have a chance at the top four.”

In Wednesday night games, YMP face Horouta Gold and Whangara take on High School Old Girls.