Gisborne Girls’ High were up against it but came out focused in the third stanza. They worked efficiently together on attack and in defence and steadily ate into the deficit — levelling the score 31-all by the halfway point of the quarter.
From there it was goal for goal, with both sides’ supporters urging them on, and by the third quarter break a Girls’ High side playing with confidence were two goals ahead.
The belief in themselves continued as they racked up a nine-goal lead and maintained it to the end for a deserved victory.
The students showed urgency and worked as a unit with everyone doing their job. They moved the ball seamlessly into their shooters, making good use of triangle passing.
Silke McNaught had a good game at wing attack. She was speedy, positioned herself well and delivered some excellent ball to shooters Jaimee Rika and Kassie Owen, who withstood the pressure from the opposition defenders and shot accurately.
Defenders Joaquina Kaa, Piper Glass-Donaldson and Skye Huhu — who came on for an injured Glass-Donaldson near the end of the third quarter — combined impressively, putting the acid on Waikohu’s attackers and forcing errors.
Goal attack Princess Tomoana was a stand-out for Waikohu. She collected many of the centre passes, directed play into the goal circle and sent some quality ball to shooter Marcia Beale.
However, relentless pressure from the students in the final quarter restricted the amount of ball getting into Waikohu’s attacking circle.
YMP (2) made the better start and dominated the third and fourth quarters to post a convincing win over Ngatapa.
Second-quarter honours went to Ngatapa, who eliminated errors and delivered better ball to peg back their deficit and head into halftime down by two.
The start of the third quarter was highly competitive. It took two-and-a-half minutes before a goal was scored as the ball went up and down the court.
YMP (2) netted four goals before Ngatapa recorded their first and by the halfway stage of the quarter the difference was nine.
With momentum on their side, YMP (2) continued to apply the blow torch. They created multiple turnovers which they capitalised on to pull away and post their first Premier Grade victory .
YMP moved the ball nicely down the court through players positioning well and making themselves available. Midcourt attackers Huntin Hooper and Leisani Vaya drove to the top of the goal circle and delivered quality ball to their shooters.
Wing defence Katrina Smith combined well with defenders Toni Halley and Meri Rauna who put constant pressure on Ngatapa’s ball carriers, forcing mistakes that allowed either of them to collect tips and make intercepts.
The Gisborne Pak’nSave Premier Grade action continues tomorrow morning with two games in the YMCA.
Top seeds Turanga FM YMP play Girls’ High at 9am and Waikohu face Whangara Old Girls at 10.30.
YMP — unbeaten this season — will provide a stiff challenge for the students, who will need to continue the confident play they showed against Waikohu to have any chance of stopping the defending champions’ run.
Waikohu had a good win the last time they met Whangara (in May) and will look to come out firing after their Wednesday night loss.
But Whangara have been more settled in this round and with three wins from three games, their confidence is climbing.
This should be a close game.
Across the road at the Victoria Domain courts, all other grades will be playing from 9am to 2.45pm.
The Gisborne Pak’nSave Premier Grade action continues tomorrow morning with two games in the YMCA.
Top seeds Turanga FM YMP play Girls’ High at 9am and Waikohu face Whangara Old Girls at 10.30.
YMP — unbeaten this season — will provide a stiff challenge for the students, who will need to continue the confident play they showed against Waikohu to have any chance of stopping the defending champions’ run.
Waikohu had a good win the last time they met Whangara (in May) and will look to come out firing after their Wednesday night loss.
But Whangara have been more settled in this round and with three wins from three games, their confidence is climbing.
This should be a close game.
Across the road at the Victoria Domain courts, all other grades will be playing from 9am to 2.45pm.
