YMP Whanau retain title

Ready to counter-attack: Ashleigh Te Patu grasps the ball for Tatapouri Sportsfit as YMP (2) centre Calley-June Clarke waits to pounce on any mistake. Tatapouri goal defence Alex Sinclair (back left) prepares to give support. Pictures by Paul Rickard

YMP Whanau won the A Grade competition in Kathleen Henderson Memorial Shield netball on Saturday.

Close games were a feature across the four grades contested.

The season opener for the Pak'nSave-sponsored netball competition went off well after overnight rain cleared and the games were played in sunshine.

“A third of the games had margins within three goals and goal differential was needed to decide some results,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said.

YMP Whanau picked up the major prize, while the Carmichael Trophy for A Grade runners-up went to Whangara Old Girls.

“The winners retained the shield they won last year, but it was not as clear-cut as last year,” Beale said.

“They lost to Whangara 17-10 in the first game of the day, and then won their other games.

“Luckily for them, Whangara lost by one goal to Horouta Gold and drew with Claydens Waikohu 1.”

The Patsy Burke Memorial Shield for B Grade winners went to Tatapouri Sportsfit, with the Carr Cup for the second-placed team going to Horouta Taimana.

“These two teams drew 10-all when they met and then won their other games, which meant they finished on the same points,” Beale said.

“Goal differential was then used to decide the winners.”

The C Grade winners for the Elizabeth Crawford Memorial Shield were Tairawhiti Maori Under-15s, ahead of runners-up OBM, whose efforts won them the Poverty Bay Umpires Cup.

“The Tairawhiti Maori U15s won all of their games,” Beale said.

“OBM and Uawa Ngarangikahiwa finished on the same points after they both lost one game and then drew when they met, so goal differential was used to decide the runners-up.”

D Grade honours went to Ngatapa White, who received the Dawn Gallagher Memorial Shield.

The Bobbie Hunter Cup for runners-up went to Uawa Hinematioro.

“Most of the teams used their benches well and regularly subbed players to try out different combinations,” Beale said.

Competition games for seniors and grading games for secondary and intermediate grades start on Saturday.