Whangara on fire beating YMP

VERSATILITY: YMP goal attack Bronya McMenamin receives the ball with Whangara Old Girls goal defence Tania Hill in close attendance during a game at Victoria Domain in April. McMenamin was a standout performer for YMP in a defensive role against Whangara at the YMCA last night, while Hill and Tiara Weir worked well together in the Whangara defence. File picture by Paul Rickard

NETBALL

WHANGARA Old Girls beat table-topping YMP by two goals in premier-grade netball at the YMCA last night.

The result lifted Whangara into second place in the Pak’nSave competition.

Whangara led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter and 24-19 at halftime.

YMP Sunshine Brewery tightened the scoreline up a little in the third quarter, but Whangara still led — 34-32 — heading into the final period, and ran out 44-42 victors.

“The game could have gone either way,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

“Both teams played a similar game and players had to work hard to get the ball through the court to their shooters. There were some good match-ups.

“Both defences worked together well, with many turnovers in the goal third.

“The goal shooters had to work for every pass.”

Whangara defenders Tiara Weir and Tania Hill worked well together again and their shooters, Sandy Porter and Nadia Taare, were again on target.

It was the same for YMP, with Raiha Campbell and Bronya McMenamin strong on defence, and shooters Paku-Jane Skudder and Kelann Kemp reliable at the other end.

Whangara coach Ronnie Martin said it was a great win.

“We needed to do that to move us into the position we wanted to be in — that’s in the top two.”

“We still have Girls’ High to play, and YMP still have High School Old Girls to play, so it’s going to be a fairly tight finish to decide the top four positions.

“Last night was exciting netball to watch for everyone, from both sides.

“There was some tough netball played out there.”

YMP remain on top of the table on 37 points, having picked up a bonus point last night.

Whangara have 32 points, Taste One High School Old Girls 30 and Claydens Waikohu 22.

“The other match last night could have gone either way, too,” Beale said.

Gisborne Girls’ High School nudged Champers HoroutaGisborne Girls’ High School nudged Champers Horouta 46-45 in another thriller.

The students led 13-12 after 15 minutes, 27-25 at halftime and 41-35 at the end of the third quarter.

Horouta came back at them strongly in the final 15 minutes.

“Both teams made changes and it looked like the students would pull away when they led by six going into the fourth quarter,” Beale said.

“However, Horouta’s experienced heads put pressure on the ball carrier and created turnovers, which helped them pull back the margin.

“Then it was virtually goal for goal until fulltime.”

Beale said Girls’ High goal keep Caitlin Bregman had a good game.

“She made many tips, intercepts and rebounds.”

In the midcourt, Hannah Veitch for Girls’ High and Paare Leach for Horouta both had strong games, Beale said.

“Both centres played well, linking the ends and being available at the top of the goal circle to help their shooters,” she said.

Girls’ High coach Irene Takao it was “a bit of a sticky kind of game”.

“But the girls came out with the right result.

“The defence did an amazing job last night, but we weren’t always able to capitalise on it as well as we would have liked at the attacking end.”

She said the team were still growing and developing, and that was the main thing.

The win means Girls’ High have 13 points, two behind Ritana Senior A. Horouta have eight points after picking up a bonus point for the small margin of their loss last night.

• The new men’s league begins at the YMCA tonight.

Three games will be held, starting at 5.45pm with The Noogies playing The Joops. At 6.45pm Big M will play LHS, and at 7.45pm Uawa will play BDPC.