NETBALL
IT’S crunch time in the premier netball competition tomorrow night when YMP go head to head with High School Old Girls to decide the other premier finalist.
The 7.30pm Pak’nSave competition match-up tomorrow night will draw a big crowd. YMP would be favoured, but only just.
The winners go forward to play Whangara Old Girls in the grand final on Saturday.
“YMP Sunshine Brewery have won two of the three previous encounters this season between these two teams,” said netball commentator Sherrill Beale.
“However, this is crunch time and previous scores will be forgotten.
“The winner takes their place in the final and the loser finishes their season in third, so neither team will want to be on the losing end.”
Beale said both teams like to move the ball at speed.
“So I am expecting the game to be very competitive.
“There will be some great match-ups through the court as the players will have good knowledge of their opposition’s skills and will be doing their utmost to get the upper hand.”
She expects the Gisborne YMCA will be packed with supporters from both sides.
Both teams would have wanted more consistency in the run-up to playoffs, particularly High School Old Girls, who for the first few months of the season looked certain finalists.
But in the past six weeks they have been patchy, and the 48-36 loss to YMP in their final round-robin game would have dented their confidence.
They got some of that mojo back in their solid win over Claydens Waikohu 1 on Saturday, in what was tough semifinals netball.
On the other hand, despite finishing clearly on top of the points table, YMP have been stung twice by Whangara lately and they may be just a little vulnerable confidence-wise.
YMP coach Ingrid Brown and co-coach Lynette Kutia have called for a total mental effort on court tomorrow night.
“We need to come out hard and strong, and cannot afford to play catch-up netball,” Brown said.
“Our defence has stood up for us and we need to compliment their hard work at the other end of the court.
“We need to ensure we stay in the moment . . . and maintain our discipline until the final whistle,” Brown said.
HSOG coach Tanya Owen said they have focused on a game plan designed to shut down the key YMP players.
“If we stick to our game plan, and trust it, I am pretty sure we can qualify for the final,” she said.
“It’s a great vibe in the team. It’s all positive.”
One of the key match-ups will be in mid-court between YMP’s Ata Mangu and Katie Kirkpatrick for HSOG.
Both have had quality seasons.
HSOG could not stop the YMP flow through court last time they played. Tomorrow night they must . . . and Kirkpatrick is the key.
One thing is for certain — both teams will want to be there for the last dance.
The entertainment spectacular tomorrow begins at 6pm when Ritana Snr A and Gisborne Girls’ High School take the court to decide sixth and seventh in the premiership.
“Both of these teams have shown improvement from the beginning of the year. Players are now working together on attack and defence,” said Beale.
“Both teams will be disappointed they suffered a loss to Champers Horouta Gold in the bottom-of-the-grade playoffs, so they will want this one tomorrow night.”
The school teams have won one each and shared a draw in their previous games this season.
“This will be a closely contested game.”