Taylor-Chaffey's standout as team finish 8th

Jaydi Chaffey-Taylor (left).

Hawke's Bay defender Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey gained tournament team selection after the under-17 netball nationals finished in Rangiora yesterday.

Bay coach Lee-Anne Taylor said the workrates of Taylor-Chaffey and midcourter Jade Poi who both played every quarter of all eight games at the tournament were one of the features of her team's eighth placing.

"These two girls have really set the bar high in Hawke's Bay. They are committed, train hard and have put in the hard work to lift themselves to this level ... they are fantastic role models for the region."

Despite recording four losses Taylor said she was thrilled with the effort from the entire squad.

"We have punched far above our weight and it just goes to show what you can do at this level when you communicate, are all on the same page and trust each other on and off the court."

Yesterday Hawke's Bay lost 36-26 to Central Zone compatriots Manawatu and 37-34 to Howick-Pakuranga in the playoff for seventh. Against Manawatu, Hawke's Bay started slowly which allowed Manawatu to force easy turnovers.

Poi and Taylor-Chaffey worked hard to create their own intercepts and got the ball through to Hannah Winnie and Emma Vennell in the attacking circle to have Hawke's Bay trailing 10-6 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was a tight affair with Hawke's Bay working to create turnover ball and take Manawatu away from their flowing attack. But Manawatu still led by four at halftime.

A few costly errors in the attacking end saw Manawatu push ahead by six in the third quarter. Hawke's Bay threw everything at them in the last quarter but couldn't close the gap.

During the first quarter of the game against Howick-Pakuranga both teams created turnovers but Howick Pakuranga were ahead 9-7 when the second quarter began. Alex Coddington and Taylor-Chaffey worked tirelessly in the defensive circle and turned over ample ball.

With strong drives and feeding from wing defence Poi to goal shoot Emma Vennell the Bay was still in the hunt when they trailed 18-15 at halftime. Hawke's Bay came out guns blazing and closed the gap through some effective through court play from goal attack Hannah Winnie, centre Tia Lewis and wing attack Myer Patoki they trailed by one going into the last quarter.

A change in the shooting circle for Hawke's Bay with Milly Douglas coming in to goal shoot and Vennell switching to goal attack provided a tactical switch that allowed both shooters to be found with ease. However, Howick-Pakuranga created pressure and turnovers ultimately proved costly for Hawke's Bay.