Netball: All In face rocky road in climb to top

IT'S MINE: Outkast goal attack Maddie Pakoti secures possession during her team's 48-32 win against All In last night. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

ALL IN ELUSIVE coach Charissa Barham reluctantly revealed the theme for her Hawke's Bay premier netball team last night.

"Rocky Road to the top," Barham said and her team will have one after losing 48-32 to Outkast Optimise Physio in last night's feature round seven clash at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena.

"We're fourth now and we're going to have to produce some big wins if we're going to avoid likely top qualifiers Otane in the semifinals," Barham explained.

Her team has had some unfortunate injuries but poor shooting has been their biggest concern all season. Last night it was 60 per cent which is unacceptable at this level.

"It's the connection between the midcourt and the shooting circle. We've got short shooters so it comes down to ball speed and until we fix that we will struggle," Barham added.

Outkast led 13-10 after the first quarter, 26-19 at halftime and 34-25 after the third quarter.

All In midcourter Tia Lewis performed well until she was forced from the court with an ankle injury with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Lewis is a Hawke's Bay under-17 rep and her Bay coach Lee-Anne Taylor won't want to lose her services as well as New Zealand Secondary Schools midcourter Briana Stephenson who is already on her injured list.

Fellow midcourter Charlotte Wilkins and defenders Nina Pineaha and Emily McLaren had some strong patches for All In as did midcourter Candis Timms in her second game after having a baby five weeks ago.

Outkast manager Lauren Marsh said her troops were thrilled to remain in third place and fresh legs in the second half was the key. Former Eastern defender Amanda Palmer and wing attack Myer Pakoti were classy off the pine.

Wing defence Summer-Rose Taylor and Corra Quinn were the best of the Outkast starters.

In the other games defending champions Otane Thirsty Whale beat Havelock North Jazz Apples Kauri 61-37 and Hastings High School Old Girls Proactive Huias beat Central Sports Vet Services HB 44-29.

Otane, who played without experienced defender Briar Chalmers who was attending the national secondary school championships in Rotorua in her role as Woodford House sports co-ordinator, led 18-9 after the first quarter and 34-20 at halftime. Kauri did well to keep within 14 during the third quarter and trailed 48-31 going into the fourth.

Midcourter Nikayla Lambert and goal attack Kate Pearse were prominent for the improving Kauri team. Defenders Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u were tireless workers for Central and goal attack Kelsey McPhee succeeded with more than 80 per cent of her attempts.

Central and Huias were tied at 9-all after the first quarter. Central led 18-15 at halftime. Huias had a superb third quarter in which they established a 31-24 lead.

"Our good first half was a massive step up," Central midcourter Anna Cudby said. "We forced Huias to make a lot of changes at halftime, they changed their game plan and we didn't adapt to their zone. But we're really happy because we can build on that first half," she added.

Defender Shaye Anderson was among Central's best.

Huias coach Rebecca Martin said injuries forced her changes and she was thrilled with her team's second half after they rode Central's improved intensity in the first.