Experience pays off for Marist Combined as they climb to top

Marist Combined stamped their authority on Whangarei Netball's Premier Grade, putting in their best performance yet at Kamo High against a fast and furious Whangarei Girls' High School side.
Last year's premiers found their form in the fifth championship round on Friday night after some close calls earlier in the season, winning convincingly 57-34. Despite the close calls, they are yet to drop a game.
Coach Eve Barton was pleased with how her team lifted to claim the top rung of the ladder after sharing it with clubmates Marist 1 for several weeks.
"It was a very good game - an excellent game and I was very happy with how they went," Barton said.
"We had a few hiccups earlier in the round - a close game against Manawanui and the Fideliter Development side but I think we are just really starting to  jell as a team."
It was a game featuring two completely opposite sides Barton said.
"One was slower and more experienced, up against youth and speed and it was an interesting juxtaposition of different skills," she explained.
Experience paid off for Marist Combined, however. New to Marist this year, Rose Parker had a huge game at goal attack, her many years in the game showing.
"She is very experienced and has a calming influence on the team," Barton said.
Goal keep Katie Snyman also had a great game, picking up a lot of intercepts.
Boosted by the return of Sian Telfer who was away with the NZ Basketball academy team last week, along with Amelia Smith's accurate shooting, WGHS also stepped up against the reigning premiers.
"They had a lot of speed which you expect with youths and I love seeing the young girls do well ... but they lack that bit of experience the old girls bring to the game."
The school girls sit in fourth spot after their loss.
Meanwhile, Marist 1 struggled against Whangarei Old Boys who dominated possession, grabbing plenty of intercepts from the goal circle and using them to their advantage. Marist 1 went down 43-33 and slipped to third on the table, while Old Boys moved into second. The third game of the night - also at Kamo High as Kensington Stadium was in use - was intense, with Manawanui and Takahiwai going head to head.
It was close the whole way through as both teams tried to find an edge however, the game ended in a 47-47 draw, leaving Manawanui in seventh and Takahiwai in sixth.
On Saturday, fifth placed Fideliter 1 played their feeder side Fideliter Development who remain at the bottom of the table after a 42-27 loss to their senior clubmates.