Netball: Collegiate grab first win

Collegiate centre Sophie Collins (pictured) and Olivia Donald in the shooters circle played their part in the upset win over Marist on Monday night.

Collegiate came out firing on Monday night to claim their first win in the 2014 Wanganui Premier Netball competition over a strong Mint Cafe Marist side.

The 35-29 victory by the youthful and far less experienced Collegiate team has justified the side's inclusion in the top eight after pre-competition grading last month.

Coach Marama Cameron was a happy woman on Monday night after Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau remained unbeaten this season following a 61-37 win over Cullinane. Cameron coaches both Collegiate and Kaierau.

"I was very proud of both teams, but especially the young Collegiate girls," Cameron said yesterday.

"The secondary school teams in this competition were always going to improve after pre-season grading simply because they have had game time together now and the combinations are beginning to gel.

"These girls are playing far more experienced and older women.

"We pretty much led from the beginning of the match and what impressed me was the way they kept their composure when Marist came out fighting as we knew they would in the final quarter.

"It was a great defensive display from the entire Collegiate team that won them the game."

Meanwhile, Cameron also had praise for her Kaierau girls who kept to the game plan.

"They played as I expected they would. I asked for intensity and that's what I got. It's very easy to become complacent once you're in front, but my girls were very disciplined and stuck to the game plan," Cameron said.

An interesting match-up is looming next Monday night when Cameron's teams clash. She had no hesitation when asked which bench she would base herself.

"I'll be on the Collegiate bench. The Kaierau girls are an experienced lot and we have a great management team, so I'll stay with the younger girls."

In the other match-ups on Monday, Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School and East Club Sportsedge also remained unbeaten.

WHS started slow in their game against Taihape on Monday night. The first 10 minutes of the game was goal for goal until WHS had a surge and got five in a row, but were only two goals ahead at the end of the first quarter.

A better performance from WHS in the second quarter saw them go ahead 24-19 at half time. Nice circle movement from the WHS shooters Sammy Murphy (GS) and Renee Butler (GA) throughout the game made live easy for feeders Ruhia Tamati (WA) and Brodie Flower (C).

WHS defence end of Leila Blackburn (GK), Kelera Kuruyabaki (GD) and Kayla Spencer (WD) worked hard to come up with some lovely turnover ball which was executed through the court and into the shooters.

Coach Lisa Murphy switched Kuruyabaki into GK and Leila GD for the second half of the game with Kuruyabaki picking up some great rebounds also. WHS won the game 48-35.

Sportsedge had a great 66-35 win against Kaiwhaiki.

Sportsedge came out strong from the start with some fine intercepts from the circle defence of Airini Potaka (GD) and Kaitlyn Couchman (GK), De Shannon Matthews (WD) and Renee Pescini (C) once again pressuring the opposition into mistakes, picking up numerous turnovers. The half time score was 30-18 to Sportsedge.

Coach Trish Anstis made some changes bringing Tash Anahera-Karenga Kingi on as WA and livewire Kairaihi Peina moved to C. This combination proved to work well with Victoria Anstis GA and Julie Rowan GS finding space and finishing off nicely. The final score 66-35.

"I was rapt it was a great team effort," Ansitis said.

Next week the Cullinane/Marist match will be deferred to Thursday evening in the WHS gym.

Most of the Cullinane girls are away on a geography trip.