Netball: Top three dominate first round

The first games of the preliminary round of the Whangarei Premier Netball competition have gone according to pre-season grading form.

At Kensington Stadium on Friday evening, the top three ranked teams all won.

The closest game of the night was between Manawanui White and Whangaruru Premiers. Manawanui White started the game strongly showing their intent right from the first whistle, running up at 8-3 lead before Whangaruru started to apply some pressure of their own, and convert possession into points. Jamie Tito playing at centre for Whangaruru continually made herself available throughout the court and delivered the ball into her shooting team mates. With only two points in the game at half time, Manawanui pulled away in the third quarter, capitalising on turnover ball. While Gail Shepherd's shooting for Whangaruru kept the team in touch, Manawanui had enough of a lead and won the game 49-43.

Newly promoted Whangaruru 1 had their first up game against the young WGHS Snr 1 side. The school girls showed their skill and put together a complete performance, building on their lead at every break. Saphire Connelly-Parry stood out in the shooting circle, making herself available for her team mates to feed her clean ball.

Whangaruru 1 scored a respectable 34 points, but were well beaten with the final score being 64-34.

Active Refrigeration Fideliter 1 were clinical in their performance over Manawanui Red. The Fideliter full court defence, put pressure on the Manawanui team and forced errors, that were capitalised on by Fideliter shooters. Fideliter maintained control and a significant amount of possession which lead to an exceptional half time lead of 27-4. The speed at which the Fideliter team delivered the ball through court left the Manawanui team wanting, and Fideliter won 53-15.