WHS way too good to wallop Kaierau

Kaierau's Rachael Lynch tries to get her shot away but Wanganui High School's Kelera Kuruyabaki will not be denied at Springvale Stadium last night. PHOTOS/BEVAN CONLEY 260813WCBRCNETBALL03

It was the excellence of execution and Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School A1 were the ones swinging the axe in the Wanganui Premier Netball final at Springvale Stadium last night.

The tale of the 56-38 hammering of defending champions Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau A1 was that WHS won every quarter and blitzed through the middle stages of the game, the tall teenagers out-shooting their opposition nearly two to one including breaking centre pass and putting up six straight goals to open the second stanza.

The twin towers of Ashlee and Sammy Murphy, who could palm the ball while leaping off balance and correct herself to score in the same motion, got great service from wing attack Rachael Horrocks craftily stealing intercepts midcourt, while at the other end big Kelera Kuruyabaki drew a cheer from the sidelines with everything Kaierau pass she shut down.

Kaierau had no answers and ultimately let themselves down by being out of sync for most of the match desperate passes overshooting intended receivers or lack of composure snuffling out some of their most promising plays.

Playing an undefeated team with a height, speed and stamina advantage, Kaierau's best chance was to rattle the teenagers nerves and hustle them into mistakes, but in fact it went the other way.

WHS would not take their foot off the throat three times in the opening quarter they coughed up the ball, only to immediately bolt back and regain it within seconds before Kaierau could even clear their midcourt.

Kuruyabaki and goal defence Ngaere Chambers doubled up on Kaierau shooter Jackie Abraham, leaving Kaierau's captain courageous Rachael Lynch to once again try to save the situation.

But this time Lynch could not deliver some nervous early misses being compounded by WHS smothering all the angles with Kuruyabaki at one point leaping clear across the circle to pluck an attempted goal clean out of mid-air.

Lynch subbed out for the final quarter, although she returned at wing attack, but from start to finish this was not their night.

WHS didn't even lose stride when wing defence Blanch Cloete limped off after a heavy spill in the second quarter, with Pahia Tamati a more than adequate replacement.

Kaierau centre Kate Hutchings never slowed down, but the trouble was that, on this night, Brodie Flower and a host of others could keep up with her.

For delighted WHS coach Lisa Murphy, it was as clinical a performance as one could hope for in a high pressure playoff.

"Absolutely wonderful, they did everything I wanted them to do. I couldn't ask for anything better."

The backbreaker was the opening three minutes of the second quarter Kuruyabaki and Hefferman broke Kaierau's chain passing, and pressured their older opponents into uncharacteristic lapses.

Given the weight of possession, the Murphys made every shot count and 13-9 blew out to 19-9 and had Kaierau scrambling for a timeout.

It didn't get any better as Horrocks refused to let Kaierau find their rhythm coming forward or going back she was up for the steal.

Sammy Murphy was calm all night while Ashlee nailed a couple of good field goals.

Never giving up, Kaierau's best phases came through the middle portions of the final quarter putting up four straight goals themselves, but the die was already cast on who was getting which-coloured medal.

In the playoff for third/fourth, Nga Tawa A got a bit of consolation after their heartbreaking loss in the semifinal the week before, seeing off 2013's newcomers East Club Sportsedge A1 53-47.

Leading by six goals at quarter time, Nga Tawa extended their advantage through each phase to finish in the bronze position for the season.
By the numbers

Wanganui High School vs Kaierau A

Final score breakdown

QT: 13-9

HT: 27-16 (14-7)

3QT: 44-27 (17-11)

Final: 56-38 (12-11)