Gritty Horouta give YMP tough workout

YMP (1) midcourter Anatea Taituha sends the ball on with support from teammates Keasi Fonohema (right) and Bronya McMenamin in a Premier Grade netball game at the YMCA. Fonohema and McMenamin have been powerful in defence all season and continued that on Wednesday night although top-of-the-table YMP were pushed by a gritty Horouta Koura team before extending their 2023 unbeaten record with a 43-39 win.Picture by Liam Clayton

Horouta Koura produced probably their best result  of the season so far in pushing Premier Grade table-toppers YMP (1) all the way at the YMCA on Wednesday night.

YMP won 43-39 while Horouta earned themselves a richly deserved losing bonus point.

As the quarter scores indicated, it was a competitive battle for the full hour although YMP were ahead throughout — 11-7 after the first quarter, 19-16 at halftime and  32-27 at the three-quarter break.

After an even start, at 2-all, YMP looked to have taken control of the game when they scored the next five goals.

But Horouta Koura were not about to give in. They made changes and pulled back the deficit — a common comeback theme of the game.

A couple of times (in the third and fourth quarters) YMP went seven goals in front.

But Horouta showed plenty of grit and determination to eat into YMP’s lead — getting to within two goals halfway through the third quarter.

There are several reasons, however, why YMP are the defending champions and unbeaten in 2023, and the ability to get the job done is one of them.

They never relinquished their lead and got across the line to keep their 100 percent win record alive . . . their mission to emulate their Poverty Bay Premier club rugby championship-winning clubmates remains on track.

YMP were speedy through the court and tight on defence, especially in and around the goal circle.

Defenders Keasi Fonohema and Bronya McMenamin worked together to make it hard for Horouta’s shooters to get the ball.

They were ably assisted outside the circle by Ata Mangu and Maia Rickard and at the other end, shooters Kawaiwhakaheke Winiata and Grace Tahuri combined nicely to give their team passing options.

For Horouta, Lucretia Taitapanui made some crucial intercepts which helped in turning the ball back to shooters sister act  Lexi and Challis Rutene.

In last night’s other Premier game, Claydens Waikohu (1) defeated Farmlands Ngatapa  58-26.

Waikohu showed how well their links between players are developing.

The players drove quickly through the court with the receivers freeing themselves from their opponents to collect the ball.

On defence they worked in unison and pressured Ngatapa’s ball carrier into errors.

Waikohu  made several changes over the game but which didn’t alter their flow and they pulled further ahead through each quarter.

It is hard to single out players as it was a team effort but Marcia Beale had a strong game at goal shoot.

She timed her movement perfectly and collected some great passes — especially the high lob along the base line —  and then slotted the goals.

Ngatapa had some good passages where they worked the ball around the defensive pressure, but it was a tough battle for them.

Two Premier games were held at the Gisborne Girls’ High gymnasium this morning — Horouta Koura v Character Building YMP (2) and Whangara Old Girls v Claydens Waikohu 1.

Other senior grades were also in action at the Victoria Domain courts after a break last Saturday.