Netball: Promotion/relegation brings excitement

Reserve netball has enjoyed a strong start this weekend.

With promotion and relegation fast approaching, teams were out to end the preliminary round with great results.

These results also count towards ranking for the championship round.

Being the only school team in the premier reserve grade, Whangarei Girls' High School Senior 2 (WGHS) put together some great phases of play, with the combination of Brittney Sackfield and Sherron Dods producing accurate shooting against Hora Hora Maroon.

Midcourters Aimee Damerell and Natasha Hewson had a strong second half with strong driving and good movement down to the circle edge feeding the shooters nice ball.

Newcomer Maggie McGrath playing at wing defence applied pressure on the Hora Hora Maroon feeders, picking up loose ball and bringing the ball strongly through court.

Hora Hora had a new shooting combination with Dawn Ellmers and Maria Te Runa. Once they settled into their work they shot well.

However, with great defensive pressure outside the circle Tahlia Parangi, at goal defence then goal keep, picked up a number of intercepts to help Whangarei Girls' High record their second win, 53-31.

Despite going down 33-47, Manawanui still put out a great performance against top-ranked Fideliter 2.

Natalie Peyton playing circle defence disrupted Fideliter ball into the shooters and had great support from Ashleigh Walker and Hayley Taylor.

Killarney Aekins and Emily Wihongi worked well together through the midcourt and fed their shooting combination of Sarah Congdon and Taylar Riini good ball from the circle edge. An injury early on to Congdon had another young player added to the fray for the remainder of the game.

Fideliter's strong combinations and versatility meant that they could make any changes work for them. Only one goal ahead at the first break, changes were made, allowing Fideliter to play with speed and fluency throughout with Jasmine Winikerei finishing off and giving the team another win.

Meanwhile Hora Hora 1 were overwhelmed by Whangaruru 1 in the final game of the day as they struggled to get any flow into their game.

However, Irihapeti Te Whata had an outstanding defensive performance, winning ball in the circle and giving her team an opportunity to stay in the game.

Opportunities were lost as the Whangaruru defensive combinations worked strongly together allowing young Amina Tango to intercept ball with her speed and elevation.

Whangaruru made the most of their possession, with Sophy Tua-Martin having a great running game at goal attack and finishing off with accurate shooting and the game 54-26.