Kaierau move clear at the top

TOP WORK:A consistent and sharp performance from Kaierau centre Eleanor Hogan, right, helped her side to a big win over Wanganui High School on Monday night. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

WANGANUI Car Centre Kaierau have confirmed themselves as firm favourites for the Wanganui Premier One netball title with a dominate display against the competition's only other unbeaten side.

Kaierau beat Wanganui High School 63-30 in Monday night's top-of-the-table clash to take the outright lead with two regular season rounds to go.

The favourites were strong on defence right throughout the court and were prepared to pursue every pass and take their feet all the way to the ball.

WHS put together some nice passages of play but in the end Kaierau proved too polished.

Injured Kaierau goal keep Te Reo Paki returned to the court this week after sitting out the past few games but limped off again 10 minutes into the game.

Coach Marama Cameron hailed a complete performance from her side. "I think we played a full 60-minute game," she said. "I honestly think it was a full team performance."

WHS coach Lisa Murphy said the match would have been a good lesson for her young side who were now looking ahead to their remaining games and making the top four.

"They just had older and more experienced players to be honest and my girls, they did okay for maybe the first half of the game, but then the errors crept in. Kaierau managed to shut us down," she said. "That was our first loss of the season so we just need to continue on and think about the other games. I like to think we could be more competitive if we do meet them again in the finals."

WHS needs to win one of their remaining to two matches to guarantee a semifinal spot.

Cullinane College had to settle for a draw for the second week in a row after a 45-45 result against New World Taihape. But they will happily share the points, having trailed by eight heading into the final quarter.

Cullinane coach Te Ora Nyman said it was another step in the right direction for the team.

"In the last quarter simple errors probably cost us. Lots of turnovers," she said. "We were just unable to catch up."

But she was pleased with how the team was tracking and expected the players to take a lot of lessons from two tough games.

"There's just so much potential with what is coming through within the school."

Wanganui Athletic Sports had a comfortable 50-31 win over Mint Cafe Marist.

Coach Trish Anstis said after a shaky start the team settled in and Diana Williams-Cribb and Hayley Addenbrooke began controlling the play well with Julie Rowan, Cheyenne McDougall and Lucy Steward winning plenty of turnover ball.

Meanwhile, Kaiwhaiki and Mere Te Aroha played out a thriller with the lead changing before Mere Te Aroha pulled away 41-36.

Kaierau now lead the table on 15 points while WHS remain on 12 points.

WA Sports are one behind in third and Kaiwhaiki hold on to fourth spot on eight. Mere Te Aroha Marist and Taihape are all still in the finals race on seven, six and five points respectively while Cullinane sit on four points.