Netball: Champs too tall an order first up

Jazmin Phillips, Collegiate wing defence, had a hectic night with Diana Taha Williams-Cribb, WHS wing attack, in her face throughout the match. Photo/Bevan Conley

In secondary school math you learn about fractions and how to apply them to equations, and it's the differences made by a fraction of a second that Collegiate A1 learned in their 58-15 hammering from defending premier netball champions Wanganui High School on Monday evening.

In the opening 6pm round of the season, bottom-ranked qualifiers Collegiate faced a tough ask against the grade's Phillips Electrical-sponsored heavyweights at Springvale Stadium and the gap in execution and accuracy was apparent.

Relying on their veterans from last year, such as towering shooter Sammy Murphy, intimidating goal defence Kelera Kuruyabaki and midcourter Ruhia Tamati, WHS blew out to a 13-1 advantage by quarter time and would convert at nearly a 3:1 goal ratio for the rest of the match.

Having the experience, WHS passed for the gaps because they knew their intended receiver would get there, whereas Collegiate often had to take those precious extra half-seconds to feed each other by straight hand to hand, getting caught out with intercepts or fumbled ball if they over-extended.

Playing with two goal attacks, Murphy was as consistent as ever with her pot shots, while at the other end, Collegiate GA Olivia Donald simply could not connect long range over the towering Kuruyabaki.

The big GD was often able to range in the midcourt during the second and fourth quarters, while WHS coach Lisa Murphy used the wing attack position to rotate court time for three players, although there was no question Tamati was the most assured when in that position.

Collegiate struggled to get under the net until midway through the third quarter when their second goal shoot, Grace McMurray, got off three straight shots during what was still a 15-6 deficit against her team for that period.

Tamati and centre Brodie Flower were nearly always able to find Murphy with lob balls over the top of a game yet overmatched Collegiate back-court defence in McMurray, Lisa Lin and Sophie Collins.

Those signature pop passes do become easily readable after a while, but that's like saying you know what the guy you're racing in the Porsche is going to do while you're in a Prius.

While being asked to play at just about the fastest pace possible in their first game, Collegiate should not despair with their first-up effort in their new grade.

Given they showed pluck throughout, in this development year they would be expected to give an honest effort against some of the lesser lights.

Centre Paige Johnson had her moments after coming on at halftime, while Collins was always willing to seek the intercept and Donald was better through the court than in the shooting circle.

In the other games, East Club Sportsedge accounted for Cullinane 63-29 after a slow start, the score reflecting solid displays in pre-season grading matches. Sportsedge went through grading unbeaten in their pool. Kaiwhaiki took control of Mint Cafe Marist 34-25, while Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau proved too strong for Taihape, winning 50-36.