TOPS: Travistine Cook is quick on her feet and a good reader of play. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD
IT HAS got so normal it is almost taken for granted.
Harcourts have made such a "bird" of winning Netball Wairarapa's premier one title over recent years it would not surprise to hear their name is now engraved on the trophy before each season begins.
Tomorrow they should do it again when they meet rivals Celtic in the final at the Colombo Rd courts, starting at 12.30pm, although it is worth noting that in their two previous clashes in 2015 Harcourts have won by less than double figures. And, even more importantly, Celtic have enough experience and tenacity in their line-up to be unruffled by either the formidable record of their opposition or the pressure of the occasion.
Having Perri Tatana-Williams in a leadership role is also a major plus for Celtic in a game of this magnitude. Having played often at provincial level in women's rugby, she has a no-nonsense approach to her defensive play which needs to be copied by her teammates right through the court.
As Tatana-Williams told the Times-Age this week, Celtic will not have any chance of an upset if they repeat the slow start they made in their semifinal victory over Pioneer Blue last weekend. For the first five minutes, they were sloppy in their passing and off target with their shooting and, against a team of Harcourts calibre, that would be asking for trouble in a big way.
On the other hand, if Celtic can demonstrate the rhythm and accuracy which saw them play Pioneer Blue out of the game in the second and third quarters of that game over the whole 60 minutes on Saturday then the many pundits who are suggesting a decisive Harcourts victory may have to eat their words. Toni Hollow and Bailey Peterson did sterling work in the shooting circle then while the efficiency of Travistine Cook, Renee Hemara, Kerewai Tatana, Sinead Namana and Tatana-Williams was patently obvious as well.
Cook, especially, was impressive in the crucial centre role, working overtime in attacking and defensive situations. She might not be the tallest or bulkiest player around but she is quick on her feet and a clever reader of play.
While Harcourts might be starting hot favourites, one thing can be guaranteed about them, the players themselves will not be taking anything for granted. Co-coach Sara Watson was quick to emphasise this week that they have the utmost respect for Celtic and she is anticipating them giving Harcourts a decent run for their money.
What makes Harcourts such a class act on the club scene is that they have a high skill level in every position. When you mention names like Katie Alsop, Geraldine Carroll, Hannah Brewer, Kaaria Rimene, Brittany Wildman, Shyanne Aporo, Evie Langlands and Paige Drummond, you are talking about some of the most gifted players produced by Wairarapa netball in recent years. When they "click", victories are invariably achieved with relative ease and the trick for Celtic is to find a way to sow the seeds of at least some doubts in their minds.
That being the case, it's hard to escape the conclusion that of all the quarters in this game the first could be the most telling. If it's even stevens at the end of the first 15 minutes, Celtic will have done themselves a huge favour but, conversely, if Harcourts have a clear advantage it could be all over bar the shouting.
It will be a busy day at the Colombo Rd courts tomorrow with the premier one final being preceded by finals in all other primary/intermediate and senior grades.
Times for all finals are:
Primary/intermediate. Grade one: Masterton Intermediate Year 8A v St Matthew's A at 10am. Grade two: Masterton Intermediate Year 8B v Greytown Aces at 9am.Grade three: DPS Pulse v St Pat's Diamonds at 9am. Grade four: Lakeview Opals v Carterton Ma at 9am. Grade 4A: Hadlow Pulse v MPS Tornadoes at 9am. Grade five: Lakeview Rubies v DPS Magic at 10am. Grade 5A: Lakeview Sapphires v Solway Sapphires at 10am. Grade six: DPS Tactix v Rangiatea at 10am. Grade seven: Wainuioru Wildcats v Lakeview Quartz at 10am. Grade 7A: St Pat's Avengers v Greytown Dream Team at 10am.
Senior. Premier one: Harcourts v Celtic at 12.30pm. Premier reserve: Bessborough v Wairarapa College A at 11am. Premier two: Wairarapa College A v Martinborough at 10am. Premier three college: Wairarapa College Y11A v opponents at noon. Premier three: Lansdowne All Sorts v Hiona at 11am. Premier four: Pioneer Gold v Kuranui A at 11am. Senior A: Wairarapa College Junior A v Wairarapa College Intermediate B at noon. Senior reserve: Wairarapa College Senior C v Wairarapa College Senior Blue at noon. Senior B: Solway Junior A v St Matthew's Junior C at 11am. Senior C: St Matthew's Junior Gold v Makoura junior B at 11am.
After the premier one final, a prize-giving ceremony will be held as well as the Bring It To Colombo celebrity match featuring well-known sporting personalities such as Irene van Dyk, Paul Iffil and Bill Cavubati.