Derby a daunting intro for YMP 2

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

by Sherrill Beale

Ngatapa got a tough welcome to Premier Grade netball against Waikohu this week and tomorrow YMP 2 will step up in their first game against the best team in the competition so far —  clubmates YMP 1.

Round 2 of the Gisborne Pak’nSave competition started on Wednesday night in the YMCA when Whangara Old Girls defeated Horouta Koura 56-43 and Claydens Waikohu beat Farmlands Ngatapa 73-29.

In the Whangara-Horouta clash, it was tight for half the game with Whangara leading

16-14  at the first quarter break, then 30-25 at halftime, before stepping it up in the third quarter to forge a 44-33  lead.

Over the first two quarters, both teams played steady and controlled netball and it was virtually goal for goal.

But in the third quarter, Whangara put more pressure on Horouta Koura’s ball carriers, created turnovers and steadily pulled further ahead.

Whangara shooters Tiara Weir and Hinewaipounamu Rangihuna are developing a good relationship and positioned themselves well to give their feeders options, as well as giving some quick shooter-to-shooter passes.

Both are tall so collected good rebounds as well as the high lobs.

Horouta tried various options throughout the court and  moved the ball well. Their tight marking created some turnovers — especially in the first two quarters.

However, Whangara’s midcourters, Tania Adamson, Nadia Taare and Zoey Briant, picked up the tempo in the third stanza and delivered some speedy ball into their shooters.

Ngatapa endured a character-building introduction to Premier Grade netball proper against the second-seeded Waikohu.

But they were competitive at times and fought  to the end in an effort to stop Waikohu’s flow.

Waikohu gave another solid all-round display as players worked as a unit and moved the  ball seemingly effortlessly through the court.

It will take a couple of games for Ngatapa to accustom themselves to the YMCA and hour-long games but they are developing a good understanding between each other and creating options, and will improve as the season progresses.

YMP 2 face their “baptism of fire” in the Premier Grade tomorrow at 9am when they take on reigning champions and top seeds Turanga FM YMP 1.

YMP 1 have been playing well in attack and defence and go into tomorrow with a perfect  Round 1 record.

YMP 2 got a taste of Premier Grade in the Challenge round last week and while they lost both games heavily, they had some good passages of play.

The club’s supporters will enjoy watching two of their teams displaying their netball skills.

On the Victoria Domain courts tomorrow, seniors, secondary, intermediate and Future Ferns grades continue.

The courts will be busy from 9am to 3pm.