Harcourts were outclassed by PIC 1 in their regional superleague division one netball match played at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton on Saturday.
The powerful PIC No.1 side, coached by assistant Silver Ferns coach Wai Taumanu, dominated all aspects of play and won by a massive 56 goals, 86 to
31.
"We just weren't in it, they were simply too classy for us," Harcourts coach Kelly Sargent said, adding that her own players had not responded well to the physical pressure imposed on them by their opposition.
"We were a bit unnerved by how physical they were, they were all over us and we tended to back off rather than meet them head on."
Several times during the courses of the game Harcourts players seemed frustrated at the latitude given PIC 1 in defensive situations and Sargent admits to being a "bit disappointed" at that state of affairs.
"I think they (PIC) did stretch the rules and we suffered because of
it but then again you have to play
to the umpires, don't you?" she said.
"But it does get frustrating when you have the ball literally ripped away from you, and that's what seemed to be happening at times."
Sargent is hopeful, however, that Saturday's big loss will be a "wake up call" for Harcourts as it gave them first hand knowledge of the requirements needed to compete against the best division one sides.
"They don't take prisoners, they constantly go for the kill and if you shown any signs of weakness they murder you", she said.
"We have to toughen up, that's all there is to it.".
Meanwhile Wairarapa College A pulled off an upset 37-35 win over Gladstone All Blacks in the latest round of matches in the Wairarapa premier one netball competition.
Celtic maintained their spot at the head of the points table with a closer-than-expected 50-42 win over St Matthew's Collegiate, Carterton Sports Arena edged out Fagan Motors Hot Shots 44-42 for their second win of the season and Kuranui College beat Pioneer Blue 53-46.
Lower grade results were:-
Premier two:
Carterton Legends 48, Makoura prem 17; Trevs 1 23, Greytown Yellow 18.
Premier three:
Wairarapa College Intermediate A 26, Wairarapa College B2 17; Carterton Mama Mia's 24, Hiona 21; Eketahuna 31, Carterton White 31; Trevs 2 20, St Matthew's B 19.
Premier four:
St Matthew's Junior A 23, Pioneer Red 18; Kuranui Junior A 14, Wairarapa College B3 12; Kuranui Blue 17, Chanel Sensat 11; Greytown Red 27, Nga Iwi 24.
Senior A:
Wairarapa College Junior A 14, Solway 1 13; St Matthew's Sapphires 17, Makoura Red 11; St Matthew's Intermediate A 22, Kuranui Junior B 13; Featherston 31, Chanel A 30; Featherston 38, Kuranui Junior B 16.
Senior reserve:
Mangan Graphics Hot Shots 16, Chanel Junior A 15; Makoura White 16, Wairarapa College Senior Reserve 1 14; Wairarapa College Intermediate B 22, St Matthew's Junior B 18; Masterton Flames 14, Carterton Blue 11.
Senior B:
St Matthew's Diamonds 31, Kuranui Junior C 7; Wairarapa College Senior Reserve 2 21, St Matthew's Junior C 5; Wairarapa College Senior Reserve 3 29 Greytown Black 13; Wairarapa College Junior B 16, Kuranui Red 9.
Primary results were:-
Grade one:
Lakeview Flames 16, MIS Year 8A 8; Opaki Jets 15, St Matthew's Primary A 14.
Grade two:
MIS Year 8B 17, MIS Matariki 5; Hadlow Ferns 27, MIS Year 7B 3; MIS Galaxy 13, St Matthew's Primary B 11; Greytown Gold Ferns 14, Chanel Gold 9.
Grade three:
Lakeview Tactics 18, Solway Intermediate 9; MIS Sapphires 13, Alfredton 7; Te Kura 13, Carterton Gold 12; Featherston Flyers 19, Chanel Silver 11.
Grade four:
St Matthew's Silver 16, Opaki Aces 5; MIS Comets 15, MIS Gems 10; St Matthew's Bronze 27, Solway Magic 10; Lakeview Rebels 14, Hadlow Pixies 4.
Grade five:
St Pats Saints 18, Lakeview Sting 9; MPS Sting 18, St Pats Shakers 4; DPS Pulse 25, Carterton Bronze 0.
Grade six:
Wainuioru Wildcats 14, DPS Tactics 3; Lakeview Pulse 6, DPS Steel 2; Greytown B 20, Lakeview Magic 2.
Grade seven:
Hadlow Rockets 7, Solway Rockets 3; Opaki Stars 9, Featherston Ferns 6; Fernridge 11, Carterton Yellow 9; Greytown C 10, Featherston Shooters 8.
Future ferns:
Lakeview Ferns 11, Solway Ferns 1; DPS Mystics 27, Wainuioru Junior Wildcats 0; St Pats Shimmers 4, DPS Magic 3; St Pats Stars 12, Carterton Pink 1.