Teri Wathen-Smith centre and captain for St Paul's Collegiate. Photo / Judy Macdonald.
Teri Wathen-Smith centre and captain for St Paul's Collegiate. Photo / Judy Macdonald.
In the second week of the Tommo's Bakery indoor open premier grade championship round there was only two games played with New World Suburbs Prem Res defaulting in their first game to Uni Premier.
St Paul's Collegiate Open A in their first official premier game started quite strongly only trailingby six goals at the end of the first quarter. By half time the score difference had doubled and then the second half of the game was dominated by Suburbs Premier. The final score was 69 goals to 30.
Suburbs Premier built pressure slowly throughout the game cumulating with a pleasing final quarter. The game was played at a fast pace with some impressive ball timing and release.
Samantha Sinclair at centre showed her class and leadership and Emily Patterson and Jenna O'Sullivan in the defensive circle picked up numerous turnover ball and provided strong drives on attack.
For the St Paul's Open A's coach it was about developing the players and therefore allowing all players the opportunity to take the court. The young team stuck to their agreed game plan and achieved the goals that they set in what was a game played with physicality and speed.
Thirty goals against one of the top teams in the competition that includes WBOP Magic players and Silver Fern trialists was a good start to the competition and one to build on.
In the other game this was close at the end of the first quarter with FTNC Premier only ahead by four goals over First Credit Union Verdettes Marist. The second quarter was more one sided with FTNC Premier taking complete control to lead by 15 goals at half time.
The third quarter was then a very tight contest again with Verdettes Marist winning this by a goal. The final quarter then went FTNC Premiers way.
For FTNC Premier it was a great team performance from the 10 players that took the court. Shooters Grace Namana and Hayley Stockman were strong and they put the ball up from anywhere in the circle scoring at 85%. The defensive unit put immense pressure on the Verdettes attackers forcing errors and creating intercepts and lose ball.
In the mid-court, Dawn Wakelin at wing attack and Alix Boe at centre provided speed to the circle edge and accurately fed their shooters. Verdettes Marist were competitive at the start and in the middle of the game but they lost total focus in the second quarter struggling to convert ball and failing to make good passing decisions at crucial moments. This and consistent shooting by the opposition cost them the game.
Tommo's Bakery Indoor Premier Championship round results - July 28 New World Rototuna Suburbs Premier 69 vs St Paul's College Open A 30 First Credit Union Verdettes Marist 40 vs FTNC Premier 61 Uni Prem vs New World Suburbs Prem Res - Win by default
