NETBALL: Cold conditions not enough to put chill on winning ways

Manawanui and Marist Old Girls kept to their winning ways in chilly conditions on Saturday.
In the first premier match of the day, Marist Old Girls dodged Fideliter despite a strong start from their opponents, with a comfortable 40-24 victory.
However, the first quarter was a different story.
Both defensive combinations did a power of work keeping the scores tied up 10-all at the end of the first break.
However, Old Girls used the break to regroup and ring the changes, bringing Hayley Barrell into centre and making life a lot more difficult for the Fideliter attack.
Fideliter's defensive trio of Loren Eagle, Megan Henderson and Kimberley Biggs impressed against the experienced Old Girls attack.
They were able to disrupt and steal a lot of possession for their side.
The three worked tirelessly and were able to keep Old Girls guessing despite their growing confidence.
The third quarter was expensive for Fideliter, with the ball rarely getting through the midcourt, forcing the team to make positional changes midway through the period due to injury.
Old Girls kept building their momentum and countered the good work from the Fideliter defence with their own stirling defensive pressure through court.
The low scoring affair was a testament to the efforts of both defensive combinations.
However, while both sides were affected by the chilly conditions, the experienced Old Girls unit adapted a little better than Fideliter.
Manawanui's Janita Andrews shot an impressive 100 per cent in her sides' outstanding team effort over Whangarei Girls High School 59-45.
The match began with a flurry of activity with both sides trading blows early.
The schoolgirls were keen to repeat their upset from the first round, but Manawanui were stoic in their approach, with suffocating defensive pressure throughout the court, challenged the schoolgirls every movement.
Manawanui were able to score off bonus as well as their own possession. Andrews and Kahu Dick capitalised well on possession, shooting confidently throughout the game. Gail Shepherd also impressed in centre, distributing possession well on attack and going for everything in defence.
WGHS's Emma Smith showed her class and determination again for her side.
Smith started in centre and then moved into goal defence, teaming up with the hardworking Meg Skryme, to try and upset Manawanui's scoring machine.
Smith's aerial style and work rate gave the schoolgirls ample opportunity to cut the deficit.
Manawanui coach Ravena Otene was delighted with her side's performance as a unit in the high scoring match and with the defensive pressure.
"They're really starting to gel as a unit now, every combination that gets out there is working well."
The match between Marist 1 and Whangarei Old Boys 1 has been rescheduled and will be played midweek.
Whangarei Premier Netball takes a two week break with the school holidays, Championship Round Matches resume on July 26th.