Whangara jumped out to any early lead. They blitzed YMP 13-6 in the opening stanza.
By halftime, though, YMP had recovered and Whangara were up only 22-20, then 31-30 at three-quartertime.
The score was tied 31-all a minute or two into the final period before Whangara surged to that six-goal lead.
“Both teams played a similar game,” Beale said.
“It was hard and fast, with players moving the ball at speed, pressuring the ball carrier, marking tightly, positioning themselves well, and cleverly working the ball into the shooters.
“Both teams had the chance to pull ahead but the scoreline was pulled back each time.”
Whangara coach Ronnie Martin said afterwards she was glad it was over.
“It was either make the final directly like this, or have to play another game, and we’re all pleased to go straight through,” she said.
“The girls settled very well and we had a strong start.
“We have been working on how we bring the ball through court, making sure that the court is balanced, and that passes get timed right.”
She said her team had a bad start to the season.
“But we have persevered and taught our new players, and tonight we got to the final.
“We hope now to produce this sort of performance again in the final.”
Martin pointed to the performance at the defensive end, where Tania Hill and Tiara Weir were again outstanding, disrupting the YMP attack at every opportunity.
“They worked hard to get the ball off YMP whenever they could.
“I thought our centre, Melissa Mackey-Huriwai, also played very well.”
YMP coach Ingrid Brown congratulated Whangara on their win.
“This was a good game of netball tonight. It was like a final to watch.”
Next Wednesday night, YMP will play the winners of Saturday’s sudden-death match between Taste One High School Old Girls and Claydens Waikohu (1).
“We’re going to have to take the long road to the final now,” Brown said.
“But we know our work-ons ahead of next week’s deciding match.”
Horouta beat Ritana in upsetBeale said there were some good battles on court last night, “like the tussles between YMP goal defence Bronya McMenamin and Whangara goal attack Nadia Taare, and between the centres, Ata Mangu (YMP) and Mel Mackey-Huriwai (Whangara).
“There were some very impressive intercepts — notably by both sets of defenders and often at crucial times.”
• In the other match last night, Champers Horouta Gold defeated Ritana Senior A 55-50 in an upset.
The quarter scores were 12-13, 27-25 and 40-37.
“Ritana did not fire tonight,” Beale said.
“It was a close game, with each team pulling ahead and then being pulled back.
“In the third and fourth quarters, Horouta played with more urgency and pressured Ritana into errors, which enabled Horouta to pull slowly ahead.
“Horouta shooters Jahneia Kemp and Ashley Maaka worked together well by moving around the goal circle and confusing Ritana defenders Te Aria Henwood and Georgia Teneti, who usually collect many intercepts and tips.
“At the other end, Horouta defenders Lucretia Taitapanui and Te Aorangi Kemp worked the goal circle well and stopped many of the high lobs that Ritana like to feed to their shooter Keasi Williams-Fonohema.”
Ritana will play Gisborne Girls’ High School on Wednesday next week and Girls’ High play Horouta this Saturday.
• The new men’s league continues at the YMCA tonight from 5.45pm.
The match between The Noogies and Uawa at 6.45pm looks set to be the best of the three matches.
