Pioneer Blue grapple with huge ask

Pioneer Blue goal keep Gemma Askew.

What chance Pioneer Blue of upsetting Harcourts in the final of Netball Wairarapa's premier one competition at the Colombo Rd courts in Masterton tomorrow?

If the form book counts for anything the answer would have to be virtually none.

After all Harcourts have made the premier title pretty much their own in recent seasons and in their last two clashes with Pioneer Blue they have run out comfortable 37-15 and 40-25 winners.

Finals, however, have a habit of producing strange results and while this may appear as something of a one-sided clash on paper it has the potential to be anything but in reality.

Pioneer Blue are a good team. Coached by former basketball star Jason Russo they have clearly been the best of the rest behind Harcourts all season, even if they had to dig deep for their two-goal victory over Carterton New World Phoenix in their semifinal last weekend.

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Russo agrees that for his side to have any chance of upsetting Harcourts they will need to adopt an assertive approach, both on attack and defence. A strong start will be vital because if Harcourts open up a decent lead early it would be tantamount to disaster as far as the end scoreline is concerned.

"You can't let a team like Harcourts get away on you, that's what has cost in the last two games," Russo said.

It will also be crucial to the Pioneer Blue cause that they somehow nullify the influence of Harcourts's Katie Alsop in midcourt. She tends to dominant through her ability to pick up intercepts and tips and feed accurately into proven shooters Geraldine Carroll, Megan Summers and Danielle Gray and the onus will be on the likes of Jahmin Te Karu, Wiriheta Russo, Lisa Manihera and Tiara Russo to at least slow the transfer of possession through that area of the court.

Harcourts will be wary of Pioneer Blue's strength in the shooting department. The loss of Hope Phillips has been a blow but Kelly and Marty Te Whare have shown they are more than capable of keeping the scoreboard ticking over on a regular basis. Harcourts have strength in numbers on defence with coach Carlene Karaitiana having the luxury of Anna Garnett , Paige Drummond, Evie Langlands Sarah Watson and AJ Aporo all capable of making a decent impact in that department.

So can Pioneer Blue do what most people would believe was mission impossible? "It's all about mental attitude, if that's right then we have a chance," Russo said. "We have to believe we can do it, that's the big thing. It's all down to one game and we have to make the most of it."

Start time for the premier one final is 1pm while the premier reserve final between Makoura College A and Carterton New World Legends will get under way at 11am.

Other finals are: Premier two: Martinborough v Pioneer White at noon. Premier three: Wairarapa College Intermediate A v Nga Iwi at noon. Premier four: Tuhirangi v Wairarapa College Junior A at noon. Senior A: St Matthew's Senior Senior 1 v DPS Old Girls at noon. Senior reserve: Solway Junior A v Wairarapa College Senior Red at 11am. Senior B: Wairarapa College Junior B v St Matthew's Junior Green at 11am. Senior C: St Matthew's Junior Gold v Makoura Junior B at 11am.