The data administrator from Hastings said it was never a given but Kauri had every intent to retain all their personnel to ensure continuity in their campaign to regain their Super 8 perch.
"We get a chance to grade again and get back up into the [Super 8] grade," said Jowsey of the premier Friday night competition where the top two of the eight teams are guaranteed a direct entry next season but the remaining six have to be sorted out during a grading tournament just before Super 8 starts next winter.
Table-topping Otane Thirsty Whale will face fourth-placed Napier Girls' High School Senior A in one Super 8 semifinal while second-placed Huias will reload against All In Elusive at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale, this Friday night.
Kauri lost their Super 8 perch to traditional foes Huias after the end of the four-round shield component - a new format Hawke's Bay Netball introduced to add more zest to the
competition this winter.
It was Super 6 last season but HB Netball made the bold step to inject NGHS and Hastings Girls' High School Senior A sides to boost it to Super 8 in a win-win development mindset.
The Annemarie Kupa-coached NGHS created history last Friday when they squeezed into the Super 8 final four in their inaugural season.
However, a smarting Kauri are very much aware of the need to keep flying the villagers' flag at the most elite echelons of the country's main female code.
"That was our aim as soon as we got demoted or dropped down so we wanted to take this [Saturday premier] out," said Jowsey.
"We had to regroup with the loss of a player and a few injuries but we did what we had to do to put it out there today so, yes, we're looking to get back up into Super 8 again," Jowsey revealed after they lost a player, Rosie Masters, who moved to Palmerston North for employment.
An elated Kauri were having a few quiet drinks on Saturday night to celebrate before popping the champagne at their annual prizegiving ceremony in the village this Saturday.
MAC manager Carol Priest said the women in blue came back in the last quarter with the threat of making it anyone's game but it wasn't enough.
"I put it down to a lot of pressure on the court going into the shooting circle," said Priest of the Denise Aiolupotea-coached side.
However, the manager was quick to applaud the Kauri defence who stifled their attackers at pivotal times to keep MAC in check.
MAC also have a stellar presence all the way to the top of the Super 8 level. They lost in the final to powerhouse Thirsty Whale Otane three seasons ago.
It was their third Saturday premier final but, like Kauri, they are relishing the opportunity to push their way back into Super 8 next winter through the grading system.
Said goal attack Aiolupotea: "We'll build on what we've got this year to try to get back up there."
In the 3rd-4th playoffs, Bay Hearts Stealers prevailed after Toki Mana defaulted their match.
In the Super 8 playoffs this Friday, fifth-placed Outkast Optimise Physio will play Central Sports Vet Services HB for fifth/sixth placing, pipping HGHS on goal ratio despite both sides registering two wins each on eight points.
Seventh-placed Hastings schoolgirls face winless, last-placed Hastings High School Old Girls Spicers Keas in the tussle for seventh-eighth bragging rights.
Final Super 8 championship standings: 1st Otane 24pts, 2nd HHSOG Huias 22, 3rd All In Elusive 18, 4th NGHS 17, 5th Outkast 16, 6th Central 8, 7th HGHS 8, 8th HHSOG Keas 0.
