Kaierau head into Whanganui premier netball semifinals unbeaten

Marist goal attack Tash Bullock's shots at goal were all in vain with Kaierau running out 62-35 winners in the final game of Whanganui premier netball round robin play on Monday.

The Kaierau women have set the benchmark with an unbeaten run into the Netball Whanganui Premier A1 semifinals next week.

The Wanganui Car Centre-sponsored team and defending champions ended round robin play with a comprehensive 62-35 win to scotch the hopes on Marist A1 making the semifinals next Monday.

Marist needed a win over Kaierau on Monday night to have any hope of making the semifinal after losing fourth spot on the table to Mere Te Aroha last week.

Phillips Electrical Whanganui High School dispatched Mere Te Aroha 53-33 this week to finish second on the leaderboard and leaving their rivals in fourth spot.

Last season's runners-up Kaiwhaiki beat bottom-ranked Cullinane by a whopping 75 to 30 to take third spot on the table.

Kaierau will now meet Mere Te Aroha in the early semifinal next Monday at 6pm, while WHS will battle it out with Kaiwhaiki at 7.54pm at Springvale Stadium.

Possibly a hard ask, but rival semifinalists need to believe Kaierau is beatable.
Kaierau coach Walter Edmonds was pleased his girls had regained consistency and on-court flow after several games on the back end of the round robin play where complacency has begun to set in.

"I thought we could get it back and we did last night," Edmonds said referring to consistency and mid-court flow.

"The play-offs, however, are a different game and we will need to ensure we are primed and ready and prepared for that. I am pleased with the way our girls are performing, though in the lead up to the semis."

WHS coach Lisa Murphy is also please her young side is coping with the pressure.

"We were really happy Kara (Adrole) returned after rolling her ankle in te last five minutes of last week's game," Murphy said.

"She had physio and was able to manage the injury well enough to play last night and she had her usual exceptional game. Her height and presence in defiance is invaluable. But semifinal netball is a step up. We got put out by Kaierau in a very close semi last year and we will be trying our best when we take in Kaiwhaiki next week."

Kaiwhaiki coach Deshannon Matthews said she was delighted her team had had a solid workout in the lead up the play-offs and once again singled out goal attack Te Rangimarie Takiari-Cribb Maihi, who also played goal shoot on Monday, for praise.

"Te Rangimarie had another outstanding game and I also thought Jordi Kotuhi-Brown had a great game at wing defence. It was a very good hitout in the lead-up to the semis," Matthews said.