Experience could be key in tomorrow’s Premier Grade final and no one in the Whangara Old Girls team has more of that than Nadia Whaitiri-White. She and 2023 teammates Tiara Weir and Zoe Bryant were in the last Whangara team to win the title — 2016 . Whaitiri-White was also in the 2012 and 2013 champion teams. Picture by Paul Rickard
Whangara Old Girls will clock up yet another Premier Grade grand final but they got there by the slenderest of margins in a pulsating semifinal in the YMCA on Wednesday night —
48-47 over Waikohu (1).
Reigning champions Turanga FM YMP and Whangara will decide the Jan Duncan Trophy as Gisborne Pak’nSave champions at 1pm in the Y tomorrow.
But it could have been Claydens Waikohu (1) challenging YMP’s perfect 2023 record and denying what will be Whangara’s 16th Premier final since top four playoffs were introduced in 2004.
Whangara pulled ahead halfway through the first quarter by working as one and smothering the ball carrier.
The tactic forced Waikohu into errors, which Whangara capitalised on to be up by six at the end of the first 15 minutes.
Waikohu made changes at the break and these worked as they reduced the deficit to two by halftime.
In the third quarter, they used a zone defence, which created several turnovers and after trailing throughout, Waikohu edged ahead, 30-29.
It was short-lived and Whangara regained the lead and went into the three-quarter break three goals up.
The last quarter was intense — the atmosphere enhanced as supporters cheered on their team. Play went goal for goal as both sides pulled off some impressive intercepts.
Every player worked hard in an effort to create turnovers and deliver ball to their shooters.
It was an impressive display of netball skills enjoyed by a large crowd.
In the earlier game, Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A sealed fifth spot with a 54-36 victory over Character Roofing YMP (2).
The students led through all the breaks —
13-11, 28-22 and 40-29.
Teamwork made the difference and they can be proud of a season they completed with a well-earned win.
On defence, Girls’ High, sporting a new strip, created a wall of red across the court to stop YMP’s flow of ball and converted turnovers to points through speedy passing and quality delivery.
All Girls’ High players deserve a mention — shooters Jamie Rika, Kassie Owen and Sage Brown; midcourt attack Silke McNaught, Te Arai Waihape-Matthews and Natasha Porter; and defenders Joaquina Kaa, Piper Glass-Donaldson and Hinerauiri Cotter-Luke.
Tomorrow’s final is shaping up as close and competitive game to finish the senior season on a fitting high.
Last week these two fought out a nail-biter 1 v 2 semifinal game with YMP sneaking across the line by three goals after a couple of turnovers late in the game.
This will be YMP’s 10th Premier Grade final since first winning the Jan Duncan silverware in 2008 — a 68-67 extra-time win over Whangara.
Over the past 10 years, they have featured in seven finals — winning five of them.
YMP and Whangara have met in eight Premier finals. YMP have won five to Whangara’s three although the last time Whangara beat them in a final was 2016 (43-41).
They have clashed twice since then with YMP prevailing each time, the most recent of those 30-23 in 2020.
That 2016 victory was the last time Whangara won the Premier Grade crown. They have been beaten in four finals since then
Both teams know each other’s strength and will have worked in training on counteracting these areas.
All other senior grade champions will be decided at the Victoria Domain courts over two rounds — 10am and 11am.
Prizegiving for these grades will be held in the GNC pavilion at the end of the 11am round.
Prem Reserve final: Down to Earth OG Whangara v Horouta Taimana, 11am.
A Grade: GGHS Snr B v The Tav Sportsfit , 11am.
A Reserve : YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato v GGHS Jnr A, 10am.
1st Grade: Claydens Waikohu 4 v Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit OG, 10am.
1st Reserve: Allwood Enterprises HSOG v Whatatutu, 11am.
2nd Grade: Horouta Kohatu v Tatapouri Sportsfit Social , 10am
Narrow home loss for Gisborne Boys' High First XV