Netball: Spirited Sportsedge end WHS run

Wanganui Wanganui High School Photo/File

The fire in the belly of the Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School A1 girls was doused when they were outplayed by East Club Sportsedge in the Premier 1 netball competition on Monday night.

WHS had gone through last season unbeaten to take the title and had retained that mantle this season until Monday night's clash with a spirited Sportsedge side.

"Well, the girls made a bit of history tonight beating WHS 52-50," Sportsedge coach Trish Anstis said yesterday.

Sportsedge came out strongly from the first whistle and, within minutes, was leading 7-1.

"Our mid-court defence created numerous turnovers that the birthday girl, Julie Rowan (GS), converted into points. She had 100 per cent shooting stats in the first quarter," Anstis said.

"Unfortunately, we let WHS back into the game through a few mistakes."

Both teams came out firing in the second quarter with Sportsedge wing attack Karaihi Peina and Victoria Anstis (GA) working tirelessly in defence.

"Teaming up with Renee Pescini (C) and De Shannon Matthews (WD), this extreme pressure gained valuable possession to produce a halftime score of 24-25. The only way to beat WHS is to convert possession into points."

Anstis (GA) and Julie Rowan (GS) came out in the third quarter and took the hard shots and made them count. At three-quarter time, it was 43-35 to Sportsedge. WHS came back in the last quarter but Sportsedge still held them out with Airini Potaka (GD) and Kaitlyn Couchman (GK) picking up timely intercepts.

However, the cool head of Peina, and experience from the senior players brought Sportsedge home for a final score of 52-50.

"I was extremely proud of the girls. They definitely deserved the win - there was a great display of skills out there," Anstis said.

WHS coach Lisa Murphy said the passion was missing from her team.

"The girls just didn't have the fire in their belly. We got a lot of turnover ball, but did not take care of it. We are into semifinals next week so will need to bring our A game if we want to continue on into the final," Murphy said.

"I don't think the girls were complacent, but it was definitely a wake-up call and a loss can often spur a team on."

There was no flow in their game through court and they struggled to get the ball down to the shooters. Changes were made at halftime with Diana Taha-Williams Cribb coming on to wing attack and Ruhia Tamati going to wing defence. Murphy made another change at three-quarter time with Tamati going into centre and Kayla Spencer coming back on to wing defence.

Next week's semifinals will be a great spectacle after Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau beat Kaiwhaiki 58-37 on Monday.

The top three teams - Kaierau, WHS and Sportsedge - are extremely close on performance this season.

Monday night's results now mean WHS and Sportsedge clash again in next week's semifinal, while Kaierau take on Kaiwhaiki.

Meanwhile, a 46-36 victory over Cullinane on Monday means Taihape will take on Collegiate in the plate final next week. Collegiate beat Mint Cafe Marist 41-31.

RESULTS

Marist 31 Collegiate 41

Cullinane 36 Taihape 46

WHS 50 Sportsedge 52

Kaiwhaiki 37 Kaierau 58