Cara Dickinson played a major role for Marist at wing attack. Photo/Bevan Conley
Finding the top four in the Wanganui Premier Netball competition this season is no foregone conclusion with at least five teams putting their hands up.
Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School made a clean sweep to claim last year's title and remain unbeaten after Monday's night's round two match, beating Cullinane 62-45.
However, East Club Sportsedge, 2012 titleholders Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau and Mint Cafe Marist are playing top netball, while the rapidly improving Taihape simply add to the conundrum.
The Marist-Taihape clash on Monday night was a blinder with the former only just prevailing 47-45.
Marist were forced to pull out all stops against the well-drilled Taihape side.
Marist coach Sharon Kaua said the Taihape defence kept Te Atawhai McDonnell and Mikayla Pihema Taiaroa busy in the shooting circle, while outside attackers Sam Leggatt and Cara Dickinson fed them some very good ball.
"The Taihape mid-courters drove the ball down court with ease and fed both shooters, who also shot at a very high standard," Kaua said yesterday.
Taiaroa directed her attack end well until an injury caused her to come off during the second quarter.
"Celone Tuka came on at GA and played a superb game. At the end of the third quarter, we were trailing by four goals."
However, turnover ball and some mistakes by Taihape helped Marist come back in the last quarter and then take the lead by only three goals.
This exciting finish had both team benches and spectators on the edge of their seats.
With a minute to go, Marist defender Melissa Hapi tipped the ball out of the Taihape goal shooter's hands and the team were able to capitalise by finishing off with the last goal for a tight 47-45 victory.
Meanwhile, Sportsedge took a while to settle against Collegiate, but once wing attack Tash Anahera-Karenga King and centre Kairaihi Peina got their eye in, they found space and fed shooters Julie Rowan and Victoria Anstis with ease. Both shooters finished off well.
Sportsedge coach Trish Anstis said her captain De Shannon Matthews at wing defence had a great game, pressuring around the outside of the circle with the help of Renee Pescini at centre.
"This pressure, and tight defence in the circle, created numerous turnovers that Amanda McKellar and Kaitlyn Couchman capitalised on," Anstis said.
Sportsedge finished strongly to win 63-35.
While WHS beat Cullinane convincingly 62-45, coach Lisa Murphy said there was still work to do.
"My girls didn't gel as well as I would have liked. We've got a few different players from last year and we need to work on getting our combinations right," Murphy said.
"While we went through unbeaten to win the championship last season and remain unbeaten this season, it's going to be close call making the top four. The Marist-Taihape game last night was a very good game and both will be very tough, while Sportsedge and Kaierau, who beat us in the 2012 final, are also playing excellent netball.
"The competition will only get harder from now on when the top teams start playing each other."
Kaierau and Collegiate coach Marama Cameron agreed.
"Yes, it's a long season to go, but I do think it will get tougher as the top teams meet," Cameron said yesterday.
"I'm reasonably happy with the way the Kaierau girls went on Monday night against Kaiwhaiki. It was fairly close in the first quarter, although you got the feeling Kaierau was always in control and so it was just a matter of making sure they pushed on a converted.
"They are a fit group of girls and we are steadily getting some good combinations together."
Her young Collegiate team were at the development stage and building confidence with each game they played this season.
"A lot of the girls are Year 11 students and will be around for the next few seasons, which is great. It has been difficult for them up against some of the top teams, but last night's game was a vast improvement from when they played WHS the week before," Cameron said.
Meanwhile, Saturday and Monday night premier netball takes a break this weekend as Queen's Birthday is celebrated, although the Wanganui under-17 and under-15 representative sides travel to Masterton to compete in the first round of the Wellington age group competition.