Whangara back on winning track,Waikohu blitz in final quarter puts away golden girls

HARD FOUGHT: Waikohu's Ruby Tuapawa and Horouta Gold's Charnelle Rutene compete for the ball during their premier grade netball game at the YMCA on Saturday. Picture by Paul Rickard

WHANGARA Old Girls bounced back from an inconsistent start to round 2 of the Pak’nSave Gisborne premier competition in style with a win over IMS High School Old Girls on Saturday.

In the pick of the two games at the YMCA on Saturday, Whangara beat HSOG 63-55 — a first loss for HSOG in the points round.

A final-quarter flourish from Waikohu saw off Horouta Gold 57-41 in the other game.

Whangara went in having already lost twice in the round but a much improved performance saw them decrease the error rate from their 62-44 loss to defending champions YMP last week.

Whangara, the 2015 runners-up, did the damage in a methodical display of finishing in the second quarter.

After leading by four goals after the first quarter, Whangara extended their advantage to 36-24 at half time, and were able to use that lead as a buffer for the rest of the game.

It was a well-deserved eight-goal victory and consigned HSOG to their first loss of the round.

ImprovementWhangara coach Ronnie Martin said the teams had shown a huge improvement from Wednesday’s defeat to YMP.

She put it down to positional and combination changes.

“We had Tracey Babbington-Maynard at centre and Nadia Taare, who is usually goal-attack, moved to wing-attack. With those two in there it was really quite controlled.”

Sandee Porter, at goal attack, and shooter Vianney Douglas also proved a strong combination, positioning themselves well in the circle.

Martin said the quartet of Taare, Babbington-Maynard, Douglas and Porter proved the difference.

Saturday’s other fixture between arch-rivals Horouta Gold and Clayden’s Waikohu started off as a close-fought affair.

Horouta took a 13-12 first-quarter lead and both teams went point for point in the second period, that single goal still separating them by halftime.

Waikohu stepped up the intensity in the third period to go 39-35 ahead then overpowered Horouta in the final 15 minutes — winning in 18-6 — for a 16-goal victory.

The premier grade continues this Wednesday, with Horouta Gold taking on unbeaten YMP, followed by Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A up against Farmlands Ngatapa.