Eketahuna up there

Netball

Eketahuna have set the cat among the pigeons as Netball Wairarapa look to decide which eight teams will contest the premier one competition.

Going into the series of grading round fixtures among prospective premier one and premier reserves sides, the indications were the same eight sides that contested the premier one grade last year would probably do so again.

In that case Eketahuna would have been playing premier reserve, but after a string of wins, including two over teams that were in premier one in 2012, they have changed the landscape dramatically and appeal as near-certainties for promotion.

That begs the question, who of last year's premier one sides will be demoted to premier reserve in a couple of weeks?

If form is to be the main guideline you would have to think Baywide Gladstone and Carterton New World Legends might be most in danger and St Matthew's Collegiate could possibly be in that category as well.

As it happens, tomorrow's grading round draw sees Gladstone and St Matthew's doing battle at the Colombo Rd courts at 9am and officialdom will be watching with more-than-usual interest. For Gladstone it will be all about playing the game at a pace that best suits them for if they let St Matthew's use their advantage in speed and fitness they will be in big trouble.

Carterton New World Legends, for their part, will be looking for a good win over Hot Shots in their match at noon, but if there is a game to whet the appetite for what is to come it will be that between Eketahuna and another of the unbeaten sides, Celtic.

The latter contains top young talent and has to start favourite, but Eketahuna will relish the chance to claim a third major scalp. This game gets under way at 1.30pm.

In other matches Wairarapa College A will play Carterton New World Vipers (10.30am), Harcourts will play Pioneer Blue (1.30pm) and Trevs will confront Carterton New World Red (1.30pm).