Will it be YMP or Waikohu to final?,Waikohu-YMP game ‘too close to call’

Netball Waikohu v GHS - Arahia Ruru, Ani Tiko, Reace McBeth

“THERE can be only one” — Claydens Waikohu play YMP (1) at the YMCA tomorrow night to decide who will play Whangara Old Girls for netball’s Jan Duncan Memorial Cup on Saturday.

It would take a brave person to call this game either way. It is simply too close to call.

Waikohu defeated YMP 36-32 in grading, and in their next clash YMP turned the tables and won 65-52.

Then came their third meeting, four weeks ago, a massive game that ended in a 44-all draw.

At the attack end, both teams have two of the more gifted shooters in the competition in the ever-steady Paku-Jane Brown-White for YMP, and the energetic Arahia Ruru for Waikohu.

Brown-White anchors herself in the circle like a colossus and Ruru hunts relentlessly for the ball.

They have different playing styles but both have extremely effective shooting skills.

The midcourt players for both teams are similar in style and feeding ability, but it’s at the defensive end where one team might now have an edge.

Stormy Merritt, at goal defence for Waikohu, is one of the best players in the competition in that position.

Another is Whangara’s Tania Hill.

And another is YMP’s Bronya McMenamin. But she is at the women’s rugby world cup in the UK, in support of her sister Charmaine, and will not be there tomorrow night.

YMP missed her defensive strength and her attacking drive last week against Whangara and they will miss her again tomorrow against Waikohu.

That could be Waikohu’s key to unlock the door into the final.

True, one player does not make a team, but McMenamin leaves big shoes to fill.

To their credit, the replacement players stepped up for YMP against Whangara.

But Whangara’s Hill made a telling difference in that match last week.

If Merritt can do the same tomorrow night, and her form indicates she can, then Waikohu should have an edge.

Both teams will be primed by their coaches, with the message “treasure our ball and pressure theirs”.

It should be a game for the ages.

The match starts at 7.45pm.

In tomorrow night’s 6pm clash, Farmlands Ngatapa and Taste One High School Old Girls play off to decide who will finish seventh and eighth in the premier grade this season.

Both teams had aspirations to finish fifth but the high school teams have taken that away from them in the past week.

To finish eighth in the premier grade is something both sides will want to avoid, so that will motivate them hugely.

It is an opportunity to produce a strong finish to their season, and gain some redemption for opportunities lost.