Wanganui High School cemented its place at the top of the premier A netball competition with a convincing 55-29 win over Nga Tawa on Monday night, while Kaierau and East Club Sports Edge bounced back from defeat last week.
Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School (WHS) dedicated their match to longtime netball stalwart Vanda Buttars who sadly passed away last Thursday. In fact, all teams observed a minute's silence before each premier match on Monday.
WHS coach Lisa Murphy said the starting seven came out with all guns blazing against a Nga Tawa side buoyed by victory the week before.
"We did it for Vanda and the girls came out fighting winning the first quarter 15-4 with a dominant display," Murphy said yesterday.
"I used my main seven in the early stages of the game and they played just as well on defence as they did on attack.
"Brodie Flower had an excellent game at centre, particularly on defence on the circle edge, while Ngaere Chambers also played well at wing defence before tweaking the same ankle that put her out for five weeks at the start of the season.
"She will be okay though, thankfully, and young Ruhia Tamati came on and continued her good form."
The second spell was not so good for the table-topping team with the girls losing their way a tad to allow Nga Tawa to claim the quarter 11-8.
"But our girls bounced back and found their concentration again in the third and forth quarters to run out 55-29 winners at the final whistle," Murphy said.
East Club Sports Edge bounced back from defeat against Nga Tawa last week with a solid 62-37 win over Marist on Monday night.
The Sports Edge shooters had a nightmare game last week, but turned around that form to post the best statistics of the season so far against Marist.
Sports Edge coach Trish Anstis said she was extremely pleased with the whole team throughout the entire game.
"In stark contrast to last week's game, the shooters were both on target with goal shoot Julie Rowan still on 96 per cent at half time and Aneka Erueti shooting once again from long range," Anstis said.
"Karaihi Peina's speed and feeding the circle made life difficult for the Marist defence. Waimanawa Potaka-Osborne (centre) and Tanielle McDonnell (wing defence) applied pressure outside the circle edge forcing pressure passes. Terehia Gardiner (goal defence) and Amiria Paranihi (goal keep) picked up some beautiful intercepts.
"With the 31-14 half-time score I made some changes bringing on De shannon Matthews at centre and Emily Huwyler at wing defence.
"They settled in straight away applying pressure mid-court and the turnovers continued. I was happy with the final score," Anstis said.
Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau also returned to winning form with a solid performance against Collegiate.
The defending champions had come back from a 64-48 loss to the table toppers last week to beat Collegiate 43-31 on Monday, and while Kaierau coach Marie Kinloch could not be contacted for comment, she would have been pleased with the turnaround.
Meanwhile, Wanganui age group representative sides head to stronger company next month in good form after competing in the Molly Dorne tournament in Levin on Sunday.
The Under-15 rep team won their division, while the Under-15 development squad finished second in their grade.
The Under-17 rep girls were runners-up in that division, while the Year 8 side finished third and the Year 7s fourth.
The Under-17 rep team is off to the nationals in Hastings between July 21 and 26 and the U15 squad tackles the regional competition in New Plymouth on July 13-16.