Netball: WHS clear leaders after 1st round

TIRELESS WORKER: Kelera Kuruyabaki (GD) proved a tireless worker for unbeaten Wanganui High School A1 during its 58-47 victory over Sportsedge on Monday night.

The top and bottom four have emerged after the end of round one of the Wanganui Premier 1 Netball Competition on Monday night.

Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School is clearly top of the table after yet another unbeaten season so far, while East Club Sportsedge and Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau are tied in second spot, although Sportsedge is ahead on goal difference.

Perhaps the surprise package in fourth is Kaiwhaiki after its 43-42 victory over a brave Taihape on Monday.

The bottom four in order on points are Taihape, Cullinane, Collegiate and Mint Cafe Marist.

WHS was never really tested in the match-up with Sportsedge on Monday, running out convincing 58-47 winners.

WHS started well against Sportsedge and despite five of their players coming off a week long U17 Nationals last week, the girls never looked like they were going to be beaten. WHS capitalised on Sportsedge's errors finishing off nicely in the shooting circle via Renee Butler (GA) and Sammy Murphy (GS).

Butler played consistent netball, moving the circle nicely, working well with Murphy. At the other end Kelera Kuruyabaki (GD) worked tirelessly with Leila Blackburn (GK) to pressure the shooters and gain some great turnover ball.

WHS midcourt of Brodie Flower (c), Ruhia Tamati (WA) and Kayla Spencer (WD) brought the ball through midcourt, feeding the shooters well. Coach Lisa Murphy was able to make changes throughout the game with Diana Taha-Williams Cribb (WA) working well in the attack end. Ashleigh Candish came on at WD in the last quarter and Rose Wainhouse into GD with Kuruyabaki going back to GK. The team worked well with the changes and finished the game running. Totally disillusioned, Taihape is to lodge a formal complaint about the umpiring of its clash with Kaiwhaiki that ended with a one point victory for the latter. Taihape players and many in the crowd believed they were unjustly treated, alleging they were penalised when no infringements had been committed or penalised when clearly the opposition were at fault. The match-up was a vital game to decide fourth and fifth spots in the competition and callers to the Chronicle yesterday suggested the very best umpires available should have been assigned the game.

Taihape player/coach Loni Martin said her team, many of them young players wanting to progress, were disillusioned by the outcome. While a formal protest would be lodged, she was not hopeful a rematch or change to the outcome would result.

"This was a crucial game to decide which is us would go through to the top four and we were simply given no chance with many of the umpiring decisions difficult to fathom. "There were calls that just didn't make sense and they were all against us. I don't want this to sound like sour grapes - it's not. But this Taihape side puts a lot of effort and dedication into the game, travelling three hours several times a week to play and train," Martin said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kaiwhaiki coach Tiriana Smith would not be drawn on the allegations, content the end result gave her side a shot at the gold in the top four. "As a club, our goal was to make the top four after entering Premier 1 almost by default this season," Smith said.

"Last year were were just pipped to take the Premier 2 title and then we were propelled into Premier 1 by default. It took a while for us to gel as a team, but we managed to do it at the business end."

In the other match of the night, Kaierau ran out convincing 51-23 winners over Marist.