Netball: Evasive must beat Elusive for semifinal spot

All In Elusive defender Nina Hyslop-Pineaha attempts to edge Otane goal shoot Pania Rowe away from the hoop. Photo / Paul Taylor

All In Tremains Evasive kept their semifinal hopes alive in Hawke's Bay's Super 8 netball competition with a thrilling victory last night.

Evasive's clash with Hastings High School Old Girls Proactive Huias was always going to be a tight affair and Evasive won 49-47.

The score was 13-all after the first quarter and 24-all at halftime. With three minutes remaining the score was 45-all.

"We got a turnover with a minute to go and scored off that and then scored off the final centre pass after that," delighted Evasive coach Kane Makea said.

"The last quarter was close. Having watched Huias previously this season we knew they would stay in the hunt well. We just had to stick with them and keep persevering," Makea explained.

In her return from an injury spell, Evasive goal keep Larissa Jacobs impressed when she took the court as a second quarter substitute. Former New Zealand softball representative Angela Stubbs displayed the benefits of her vast netball experience with consistent work in the wing attack and wing defence positions.

Makea gave goal shoot Kathleen Tuapata the thumbs up for the manner in which she created space and linked with her support players. Tuapata shot 46 of her 49 attempts.

Evasive will have to beat their sister team, All In Elusive, next week to stay in semifinals contention.

Huias goal shoot Judy Brown sank 35 of her 42 attempts for an 83 per cent success rate. Her goal attack Rebecca van Rooyen shot 12 from 17 for 71 per cent.

Last night Elusive were beaten 56-51 by Otane Thirsty Whale, who led 13-11 after the first quarter and 28-22 at halftime.

Waikato-Bay of Plenty Beko League team player Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey played her second Super 8 game of the season for Otane.

Player-coach for Otane, Tammy Kupa said Taylor-Chaffey will be available for the remainder of the season.

Kupa singled out centre Ashley Renata, who was promoted from the club's seconds, for her ability to adjust to the higher level.

Otane goal shoot Pania Rowe had an 81 per cent success rate and Elusive's Imke Kitchin shot at 80 per cent.

On the adjacent court, Central Sports Vet Services beat Hastings Girls High School 65-48. Central led 17-8 after the first quarter and 32-24 at halftime.

The other clash between Napier Girls' High School Senior A and leaders Outkast Sports Optimise Physio was played on Wednesday night at Woodford House to enable the NGHS players to attend their school ball last night.

While the NGHS players would have been disappointed with the ball being cancelled they had every right to be proud of their 48-37 victory.

Outkast led 12-11 after the first quarter, Napier led 26-18 at halftime and 36-26 at the start of the final quarter.

After recovering from a wrist injury NGHS goal shoot Janaya Preece shot 35 of her 40 attempts for an 88 per cent success rate. Goal attack Janayah Lewis sank 13 of her 16 attempts for an 81 per cent success rate.

It wasn't a surprise they kept their respective positions for the entire game. Outkast player-coach Jeda Bartlett made several changes in her shooting circle.

Goal shoot for the first half, Nancy Rakete-Stones, sank 11 of her 17 attempts. Goal shoot for the third quarter, Rakei Saena, shot two from three and goal shoot for the final quarter, Denise Toetoe, sank all six of her attempts.

Outkast's goal attack for all four quarters, Angel Te Hiko, shot 18 of her 23 attempts for a 78 per cent success rate.