Wavering Kaierau turn tables on Ruapehu to win

SHARPSHOOTER: Collegiate utility player Sophie Collins gave her side hope shooting 100 per cent when moving into GA against WHS A1 on Monday night. PHOTO/FILE A_190514WCBRCNET20

A STRING of unanswered goals allowed eighth seeds Ruapehu Sports Club to dominate second seeds Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau and lead 7-0 in the opening minutes of round two of Premier netball on Monday night.

It may have seemed Kaierau were a little guilty of standing still at times but this was more a testament to the defensive pressure applied throughout the court by Ruapehu. Kaierau, however, capitalised on an injury to Ruapehu WA Sophia Wallace in the final minutes and reined in the deficit to trail 10-12 at the first break.

With the introduction of GK Kelera Kuruyabaki in the second quarter to combine nicely with GD Te Reo Paki, Kaierau rediscovered their connections through the court, taking the second quarter 14-11 to lead by one at the halftime break. They then solidified those connections to produce stunning third and fourth quarters, winning them 19-5 and 18-7 respectively. They were well served again by GS Suezanne Guilford, who netted 51 from 52 shots (98 per cent), sending a clear message to the competition that when her side delivers her the ball, she will finish the job for them. Final score 61-35 Kaierau.

RUAPEHU captain Erena Most was philosophical about her side's performance, noting that they know how to play good netball. The challenge for them was to adjust to playing the full 60-minute game.

Sixth seeds Marist A1 toppled fourth seeds Kaiwhaiki 56-50 in the other early round game. With very little in it at the first break, Kaiwhaiki led 13-11 on the back of some superb movement and shooting from the side's shining light and youngest member of the squad, GA Te Waimatao Potaka-Osborne, who nailed 11 from 12 attempts.

The momentum shifted in the second quarter with a slight tweak to the mid-court for Mint Caf Marist A1 which saw WA Cara Dickinson and C Britney Rourangi trade places. Marist produced a solid performance to win the quarter 18-9 and lead by seven at the break, 29-22.

A raft of changes in the third quarter helped Kaiwhaiki curb Marist's run and contain the deficit to nine at the three-quarter break, 42-33. They went on to win the final quarter 17-14 but the honours overall went to Marist A1.

East Club Sports came out firing from the starting whistle in their match against Cullinane, with WA Kairaihi Peina and C Hayley Addenbrooke delivering the ball to their shooters with superb precision.

East led 22-9 at the first-quarter break.

Deshannon Matthews came on at WD and made her presence felt by applying great pressure around the circle edge.

Coach Trish Anstis was particularly pleased with Heather Matoe, whom she moved back to GK in the second half, where she read the play brilliantly and hunted the ball, gaining lots of possession outside the circle.

Overall, it was a great team effort and a win to EC Sports, 68-42.

On the other bench, Cullinane College struggled without their starting circle defenders, Brylee Lott and Lyric Pikimaui. With no choice but to move sharpshooter Te Manawanui Tapa Ranginui into GK, to provide some much-needed height, coach Raven Steele was keen to lift her side's spirits following the game, put things into perspective and look forward to their next game.

IN the final matchup of the night, reigning champions WHS A1 put in a solid performance with all combinations used during the game working well.

Collegiate exerted some fantastic defensive pressure in the first quarter, with Jasmine Phillips particularly effective at WD. At the other end, super-cool Sophie Collins shot 100 per cent to keep her side in touch at the first quarter break, 9-8.

A change to the WHS mid-court, with Niamh Flower coming on at WA in the second quarter, saw things open up more for the champs and with the defensive duo of Taliah Su'a and Leila Blackburn combining well in the circle to pick up plenty of ball, High School put the wheels in motion.

Leading 23-15 at halftime, an injury to GA Renee Butler in the third quarter saw Flower move to GA where she combined nicely with captain Sam Murphy who again led well, extending their lead to 41-19 at the break.

With six new players in the squad this year, coach Lisa Murphy on reflection was pleased with how her side were progressing.

The final quarter saw Collegiate fight back, drawing 13 all, with Mako Osborne coming back on strongly at WA and Collins anchoring the shooting effort.

Final score 54-32 to WHS.