Netball: Both finalists pushed hard in semis

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The 2014 Premier 1 final will be a rematch of 12 months ago as defending champions Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School A1 and Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau pulled clear of their plucky opposition in Monday night's semifinals at Springvale Stadium.

Backing up against the teams they met in the final round robin the week before, there was no lack of determination from either the underdog East Club Sportsedge or Kaiwhaiki teams.

The latter stayed with the schoolgirls until midway through the final period, while Kaiwhaiki found three competitive quarters could not overcome one with slight lapses.

While predictions were uncertain for the WHS-Sportsedge clash based on Sportsedge's upset a week ago, Kaierau were expected to have few troubles with fourth-placed Kaiwhaiki yet trailed 12-10 after the first quarter.

From goal attack Rangimare Maihi on down, every Kaiwhaiki player was willing to work across the court and get a hand in play for the tip or steal, trying to stifle the channel between Kaierau's offensive trio of the Lynches - wing attack Clare and goal attack Rachel - along with shooter Suzanne Guilford.

At the other end, Kaiwhaiki GS Te Oranga Whanarere would shoot from the top of the circle while GA Rangimare Maihi swung around to the pole either as the pass option or for rebounds.

Kaiwhaiki's passes were the riskier but initially the more successful, as Kaierau goal defence Melissa Crothers and goal keep Abbey Sherman took a few referees' calls. Rachel Lynch tried to increase the urgency but was hampered by turnovers.

Both teams were still going tit-for-tat until late in the half, as Kaiwhaiki wing defence Pania Miller and GD Amiria Paranihi had no problem getting as aggressive as they needed to be.

The key moment came about two minutes before the break as Paranihi limped off after getting tangled midair with Rachel Lynch, with Kaierau having time to regroup and rethink during the stoppage.

After the half, the fresh Kate Hutchings came on at centre to allow Kaierau to maintain their midcourt tempo while Rachel Lynch began to find her rhythm, with 30-27 turning into 41-30 as they broke centre pass while converting all their possessions through accurate handling as the final break approached.

Knowing they had let the favourites slip away, Kaiwhaiki gave it one last dig for the final quarter as Paranihi returned and the pace began to slow.

A composed Kaierau were content to revert back to simple pop passing, some great steals by Kaiwhaiki GK Sharnarose Pehi and wing defence Heather Matoe notwithstanding, as the clock ran down.

Given complacency cost them their undefeated record to Sportsedge seven days before, after conceding the opening goal, WHS led throughout the 2nd vs 3rd clash but could not put away their scrappy opposition.

Sportsedge GA Victoria Anstis had obviously learnt the value of high lob shots to counter-attack the towering GK Kelera Kurnyabaki. While situated at WA and C respectively, Ruhia Tamati and Brodie Flower swapped roles as they worked both court sides to try and find their target in the form of towering redwood GS Sammy Murphy.

Sportsedge defenders Airini Potaka and Kaitlyn Couchman were keeping nothing in reserve as they hustled hard, which also made the obstruction calls build up, while GS Julie Rowan hung tough against Kurnyabaki. It was working, as the gap closed to two goals midway through the second quarter.

Yet the WHS attackers have that honed sixth sense where a raised eyebrow can be telegraphed from 7-8m away as Tamati found Murphy repeatedly to extend the advantage to 22-15 before Sportsedge clawed their way back once again following a time out before the half.

The defenders quit the subtle tactics as Potaka and Couchman both doubled up on Murphy to try and make WHS GA Renee Butler carry more of the workload, while wings Karaihi Peina and Deshannon Matthews lost none of their grit as Sportsedge looked sore and tired but had kept themselves in with a shot at 36-34 come three-quarter time.

But it was also obvious WHS would have one more big scoring burst in them, as they can so often force turnovers to put in three or more rapid shots. And so it proved, with 42-41 becoming 47-41 as Tamati moved to centre and hounded Peina, while Murphy coolly nailed her top of the circle attempts. Tamati, Butler and Kurnyabaki also leapt high in succession to knock away last-gasp Sportsedge passes to put their team through to the grand final next Monday.

In the plate final, the youthful Collegiate team ended the season with a 48-31 win over Taihape, while Cullinane ensured Mint Cafe Marist claimed the wooden spoon with a 64-40 victory.

The playoff for third and fourth between Sportsedge and Kaiwhaiki is scheduled for 6pm next Monday, while the WHS-Kaierau final is set for 7.45pm.