Mere Te Aroha WD Silvah Anderson keeps watch as her side went down 53-45 to Kaiwhaiki on Monday night. Photo/ Stuart Munro
Mere Te Aroha WD Silvah Anderson keeps watch as her side went down 53-45 to Kaiwhaiki on Monday night. Photo/ Stuart Munro
THREE teams have ended the Whanganui Premier A1 regular season tied on top of the ladder following Kaiwhaiki's 53-45 win over Inspire Health & Fitness Mere Te Aroha on Monday night.
That result catapulted Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau to the top on goal difference with all three teams finishing on17 points.
The final semifinal spot was also decided on goal difference with Phillips Electrical Whanganui High School A1 getting through on goal difference over Mint Cafe Marist A1 after both teams finished one back on 16 points.
It sets up an intriguing pair of semifinals on Monday in what has been one of the tightest competitions in years.
Kaierau take on WHS while Kaiwhaiki and Mere Te Aroha get a rematch for a place in the final.
Mere Te Aroha goal shoot Te Manawanui Tapa-Ranginui gets air in her side's 53-45 loss to Kaiwhaiki on Monday night. The two sides meet again in next week's semifinals. Photo/ Stuart Munro
On Monday Kaiwhaiki coach Aneka Brown said they settled quickly into what then was a top-of-the-table clash with a new shooting combination of Sharna Andrews-Steele (GA) and Sharnarose Pehi (GS).
"Unfortunately near the end of the first quarter Sharna was knocked to the ground and had to leave the court for the remainder of the game," Brown said.
Ina Whanarere-Nahona (GA) slotted back into her normal position working well with Waimanawa Potaka-Osborne-Whanarere (WA) who drove hard to the circle, feeding the ball nicely into her shooters.
Javell Pereka (GK) and Taliatua Leo (GD) put in good first-half performances, rebounding well.
Captain Kahureremoa Aki (C) had a strong game on both defence and attack while young defender, Mahinarangi Millar-Potaka (WD) showed consistency chasing loose ball and gaining turnovers.
"We arrived and took to the court as if it was the final," Brown said.
"It was definitely a whole team effort, one we are very proud of and now are looking forward to next week having secured a spot in the top four."
With that result and a big 66-20 win over Marist A2, Kaierau A1 set up a semifinal against WHS.
"We knew we needed a win to secure a spot in the top four and last night was all about consolidation for us," coach Walter Edmonds said.
"I was most pleased with our defensive work and ability to restrict Marist A2 to under seven goals in each quarter."
He said Lisa Lin, captain Rachel Lynch, Courtney Haywood, Charlotte Hill and Hayley Addenbrooke all contributed to a solid defensive effort.
"Looking to next week against a very talented WHS side we will need to lift another level and lower our error rate if we want to be playing finals."
WHS warmed up for knockout netball with a 60-46 win over Taihape and coach Lisa Murphy said next week would be about keeping errors down.
They way the season had panned out meant any team could win on the day, she said. "I believe the girls can do it, they've just got to believe in themselves."
