Final two book places after tussles

The final two teams to join the Netball Wanganui Premier 1 competition were confirmed on Sunday after one of the tightest grading competitions in recent years.

Expanding Premier 1 back into an eight-team competition due to good overall strength across the squads, there were four teams left to playoff for the remaining spots at Springvale Stadium.

Mere Te Aroha defeated Cullinane and Marist A2 to book their place, while both those beaten teams won their other match against Collegiate.

Therefore, Cullinane got the final spot as they had beaten Marist A2 at the previous weekend's grading, coming from 10 goals down in the final quarter to win by a point in a thriller.

It was a cruel blow for Marist A2 who had nearly got through at the first grading because they beat Taihape - who on goal differential still qualified at the time, as did Kaiwhaiki.

Netball Wanganui's Parekura Muraahi said under the grading format rules, only match results between teams still trying to qualify will get carried over to the second weekend.

"Any games that have already been played don't get played [again].

"Marist A2 put up a great fight.

"They feel that it shows a flaw in the system. Certainly, the grading committee will review."

However, when looking at the four teams in contention at that point, Marist A2 won only one of three games, while Cullinane won two and Mere Te Aroha were unbeaten, Muraahi explained.

She was therefore confident that the best teams to fill the last two positions had gone forward.

"It was really tight, which was fantastic. We haven't had a grading that strong in some time.

"If ever there was a year we would consider more teams, that would have been it."

Nonethless, eight teams is the maximum Netball Wanganui can have playing in the time available on Monday nights at Springvale Stadium.

This year also saw a first where the Premier 1 club coaches did a random draw to decide the game schedules.

The competition starts this coming Monday, May 16.

The qualified teams are:

Kaierau, Wanganui High School, Marist A1, Wanganui Athletic, Taihape, Kaiwhaiki, Mere Te Aroha, Cullinane College.