Whangara end YMP’s streak: 57-53

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

WHANGARA Old Girls 1 ended YMP 1’s two-season points competition unbeaten run 57-53 in a gripping Gisborne Pak’nSave premier netball game last night.

A valiant effort from bottom-of-the-table Farmlands Ngatapa pushed top-four hopefuls Horouta Gold to the brink before Gold got home 53-51 win.

It was clear from the start of the Whangara-YMP clash that both teams were ready for a battle. with fast and furious play in the first quarter ending in a 15-all scoreline.

Quarter two followed a similar pattern, with runaway table leaders YMP holding a tenuous 31-30 advantage at halftime.

‘We didn’t have a great start in the first quarters,” said Whangara coach Ronnie Martin. “We threw a few balls away. They were throwing the ball everywhere so we started focusing on control.”

Martin made a combination change at the break, swapping Sandy Porter from goal shoot to goal attack and moving Vianney Douglas into goal shoot.

The back-and-forth play continued into the third quarter, but powerful cross-court defence helped Whangara move to a three-goal lead (46-43).

“We didn’t worry about the score,” said Martin of their last quarter focus.

“It was just about being consistent, cutting down the errors, enjoying the game and continuing to work hard on defence.”

Attacking defence inspired the old girls to a six-goal lead. But the defending champions remained hot on their heels and systematically closed the score as the game moved into the last five minutes.

A few mistakes proved costly for YMP, allowing Whangara to maintain their marginal lead and sending a warning in the countdown to the top-four playoffs.

“It was a good game. We weren’t expecting it but you always work towards that,” said Ronnie Martin.

She believed their victory was a combination of tight cross-court defence and consistent shooting, especially from Nadia Taare and Porter.

Martin couldn’t pick a star player on the night but was impressed by her team’s intimidating defensive pressure led by Tania Hill.

“They got a lot of intercepts and really boosted (the morale) of the players around them,” said Martin.

Defensive players also shone in the Ngatapa-Horouta clash, in particular Ngatapa goal keep Arna Majstrovic, whose energetic and well-timed intercepts were crucial to her team’s valiant play.

Horouta had the edge throughout but Ngatapa never gave in and kept the pressure on the Golden Girls, who led 15-11 after the first quarter, 29-26 at halftime and 40-38 at three-quarter time.

Horouta moved into third place while Ngatapa earned a losing bonus point for their efforts.

While YMP and Whangara have booked places in the top-four playoffs, the last two positions are still open to four of the five remaining teams.

The only game this Saturday will see sixth-placed Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A up against fourth-placed Claydens Waikohu, who need to win to stay in the top-four running.

There are several crucial games next week for sides chasing the available two spots in the top-four playoffs.

Points (all teams have one game to go except IMS HSOG, who have two): YMP 41, Whangara 30, Horouta 25, Claydens Waikohu 23, IMS HSOG 20, GGHS Sr A 17, Ngatapa 6.