Netball
Coach Dayle Clarkson was not disillusioned by Wairarapa's 73-27 loss to a powerful Naenae Collegians Blue side in their opening regional super league netball match played at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua last Thursday night.
Clarkson said the final scoreline was not a true reflection of how well Wairarapa performed, particularly the manner in which they improved after trailing by 25 points at halftime.
"We continued to focus on our game plan and grew in confidence, finishing with a strong last quarter," Clarkson said. "We were found to be a bit one-dimensional and obviously need to work on strategies to deal with the differences in game style. That's the challenge for me as the coach."
On Thursday night Wairarapa come up against PIC 2 from Wellington, starting at the Te Rauparaha Arena at 7.30pm, and Clarkson is sure the lessons learned from their opening match will be a benefit.
Meanwhile, Celtic, Eketahuna and Harcourts all maintained their unbeaten records when matches in Netball Wairarapa's combined premier one-premier reserve grading round continued at the Colombo Rd courts in Masterton on Saturday.
Pre-game speculation was Celtic and Pioneer would have a battle royal and they did not disappoint, Celtic winning a keenly-contested fixture 42-28.
Victory came easier for Eketahuna who beat Baywide Gladstone 51-22 and Harcourts who won 60-18 over St Matthew's A.
Saturday's results were:
Premier one/premier reserve: Eketahuna 51, Baywide Gladstone 22; Carterton New World Vipers 54, Carterton New World Red 38; Hot Shots 44, Carterton New World White 12; Wairarapa College A 56, Carterton New World Legends 38; Celtic 42, Pioneer Blue 38; Harcourts 60, St Matthew's A 18.
Premier two/premier three: Solway A 30, Wairarapa College B 12; Opaki Old Girls 27, Makoura B 10; East Coast 29, Pioneer White 16; Chanel A 26, St Matthew's B 10; Wairarapa College Intermediate A 21, Makoura Junior A 14; Trevs Pic n Mix 30, Featherston 20; Pioneer Red 25, Greytown Red 16; St Matthew's Junior A 27, Mainfreight Hotties 25.
Premier four/senior A: Carterton New World Social 15, Chanel Junior A 14; Greytown Black 27, Wairarapa College Intermediate B 11; Martinborough 39, Nga Iwi 22; Kuranui A 15, Solway B 12; Wairarapa College Masters 28, Wairarapa College Junior A 18; Wairarapa College Blue 28, Kuranui White 12.
Senior reserve: Wairarapa College Junior B 25, Makoura Junior B 22; Solway Junior A 17, Wairarapa College Junior Blue 10; Chanel Junior B 19, Wairarapa College Junior Red 9; Kuranui Blue 20, St Matthew's Junior Green 20; Wairarapa College Intermediate Blue 21, St Matthew's C 21; Kuranui Maroon 16, St Matthew's Junior Gold 11.
Primary and intermediate grading round results were:
9am: Lakeview A 27, St Matthew's A 14; MIS A 36, Solway 10; Carterton Whero 24, Nga Kakano 11; Lakeview B 5, Chanel Blue 3; Carterton Ma 20, Greytown A 6; Hadlow Pulse 29, MIS Mystics 4; MIS B 36, Carterton Kahurangi 3; MIS Magic 23, Lakeview C 3; St Matthew's B 23, Wainuioru Wildcats 4; Greytown B 8, Opaki Aces 4.
10am: Tinui 21, Lakeview Flames 7; DPS Pulse 11, Gladstone Gladiators 4; St Matthew's C 18, MPS Sting 6; MIS Steel 8, Carterton Kowhai 5; MIS Pulse 29, Lakeview Pulse 4; St Pats Diamonds 23, MIS Tactic 15; Solway Diamonds 26, Opaki Stars 4; Hadlow Steel 8, Martinborough Ferns 6; Kautara 2 4, St Pats Hearts 3; Greytown C 5, Hadlow Ferns 0.
11am: St Pats Spades 22, Gladstone Gems 0; St Pats Clubs 7, Fernridge Ferns 6; Opaki Jets 9, MPS Ferns 4; Lakeview Magic 9, Greytown D 2.
Future ferns: Greytown 16, Solway Sapphires 0; Lakeview 9, DPS Steel 0; Carterton Kakariki 14, Fernridge 2.