YMP Whanau take back-to-back wins

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

YMP Whanau went back to back in the Kathleen Henderson Memorial Tournament at Victoria Domain on Saturday, unbeaten in their four games.

They repeated their A Grade result in the pre-season netball tournament from 2020. Arch-rivals Whangara Old Girls were runners-up again.

“There were lots of close games during the day,” Gisborne Netball Centre manager Allisa Hall said.

“It was hot out on the courts but what a fantastic day and tournament we had.

“Lots of teams had gazebos set up around the courts.”

YMP beat Horouta Gold 18-7, Gisborne Girls' High School 16-10, Whangara 16-13 in their biggest test, and Trident High School from the Bay of Plenty 18-8.

They amassed the maximum 20 points from their four games, Whangara Old Girls had 16, and Trident High were third on 10 points.

YMP scored 91 goals and conceded 48, testament to the quality of performance by the defending premier champions. It augurs well for their chances in the premiership this season.

One notable result in A Grade competition was Horouta Gold's 14-13 victory over Claydens Waikohu, a result from which Horouta will take some heart.

Waikohu finished fourth on nine points, Gillies Electrical Girls' High were fifth and Horouta sixth.

The B grade title went to High School Old Girls, who were unbeaten, ahead of Horouta Taimana.

One of the toughest B Grade matches was High School Old Girls' hard-fought 9-8 win against Ritana Senior A.

Claydens Waikohu (2) won the C Grade on points differential from a gritty Campion College Senior A side, after both sides were tied on 16 points.

Girls' High Junior A won the D Grade ahead of Ngatapa White.

“The men's exhibition game drew a great crowd,” Hall said.

“With all the women's teams on byes, everyone crowded around to watch it.

“Court 2 was surrounded by people enjoying a real showcase.”

The Uawa men's team outscored the Ring Inz 42-21.

Results — A Grade: YMP Whanau 18 Horouta Gold 7, Gillies Electrical Gisborne Girls' High School 7 Trident High School 13, Claydens Waikohu 10 Whangara Old Girls 17, Whangara OG 13 Trident High School 11, GGHS 10 YMP Whanau 16, Claydens Waikohu 13 Horouta Gold 14, Claydens Waikohu 15 Trident High School 13, Whangara OG 13 YMP Whanau 16, GGHS 15 Horouta Gold 12, YMP Whanau 18 Trident High School 8, Whangara OG 16 Horouta Gold 5, Claydens Waikohu 12 GGHS 11.

B Grade: Tatapouri Sportsfit 15 YMP (2) 16, High School Old Girls 9 Ritana Senior A 8, Ngatapa Red 14 Horouta Taimana 13, Tatapouri Sportsfit 7 Ritana Snr A 10, Ngatapa Red 9 YMP (2) 9, HSOG 17 Horouta Taimana 13, Horouta Taimana 16 YMP (2) 13, Tatapouri Sportsfit 9 HSOG 16, Ngatapa Red 15 Ritana Snr A 8, Ngatapa Red 7 HSOG 16, YMP (2) 15 Ritana Snr A 5, Tatapouri Sportsfit 8 Horouta Taimana 11.

C Grade: Ngatapa Green 9 GGHS Senior B 6, Claydens Waikohu (2) 12 OBM Blue 8,Thistle Storm 16 Campion Senior A 17, Ngatapa Green 8 OBM Blue 11, Thistle Storm 10 GGHS Snr B 9, Claydens Waikohu (2) 15 Campion Snr A 11, Claydens Waikohu (2) 22 Thistle Storm 10, Ngatapa Green 9 Campion Snr A 11, OBM Blue 13 GGHS Snr B 9, Campion Snr A 15 OBM Blue 12, Ngatapa Green 9 Thistle Storm 9, Claydens Waikohu (2) 12 GGHS Snr B 19, Thistle Storm 9 OBM Blue 10, Campion Snr A 11 GGHS Snr B 9, Ngatapa Green 10 Claydens Waikohu (2) 19.

D Grade: Uawa Hinematioro 9 XLR8 12, Ngatapa White 8 GGHS Junior A 8, Uawa Hinematioro 6 GGHS Jnr A 11, Kotahi Aroha 11 XLR8 14, Kotahi Aroha 2 GGHS Jnr A 19, Uawa Hinematioro 13 Ngatapa White 13, Kotahi Aroha 4 Uawa Hinematioro 16, Ngatapa White 15 XLR8 6, Kotahi Aroha 7 Ngatapa White 17, GGHS Jnr A 22 XLR8 3.