Last quarter win for Whangara

Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A centre Natasha Porter looks to clear the ball down the court with close attention from Whangara Old Girls’ Ella Hurley. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Premier Grade defending champions Whangara Old Girls had to come from behind in the final quarter to beat Girls’ High Senior A in their opening game of Round 1 of Gisborne senior netball at Victoria Domain on Saturday.

Girls’ High picked up a well-earned bonus point in their narrow 30-27 loss to Whangara.

The students trailed by a single goal at quartertime (7-8), but they worked their way into a 17-13 lead at halftime, holding the lead at 22-21 at threequarter time.

Then the Whangara comeback got into top gear and they outscored the students 9-5 in the final period.

There were losses for both YMP teams in the other two premier matches.

Claydens Waikohu 1 made a strong start to their season with a 34-30 victory over Kathleen Henderson winners, Turanga FM YMP.

YMP led 7-5 at quartertime, and 16-15 at halftime, only to see Waikohu take a 25-23 lead at the threequarter mark, and extend it in the final quarter.

“The first two premier games were very close and the quarter scores showed how the lead changed hands,” commentator Sherrill Beale said. “Those four teams have retained a large number of last year’s players and their new, young players are slipping into their gameplay well.”

In the other premier match-up TR Builds Horouta Koura were too strong for Character Roofing YMP 2.

Horouta led at every break —  11-2, 23-9, 30-15  en route to a 41-20 win.

“Both of those teams had a bigger ratio of new and returning players,” Beale said. “However, Horouta Koura’s links settled quickly. They took a good lead and did not let off the pressure throughout the whole game.

“It was good to see the competitiveness in the three premier games on the first day and I think we may be in for a close Round 1. It was great to see the netball whanau back on the courts at Victoria Domain across the senior, secondary and intermediate grades.”

The secondary and intermediate teams played two grading games on Saturday, and will play another two this Saturday.

Senior results (bonus point for losing by three goals or less) — Premier Grade: Whangara Old Girls (1) 30 Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A 27, Claydens Waikohu (1)  34 Turanga FM YMP 30, TR Builds Horouta Koura 41 Character Roofing YMP 20.

Premier Reserve: Steve Craill Ngatapa w/o YMP Masters, Aorangi Contracting HSOG 27 Claydens Waikohu P2 21, Steve Craill Ngatapa 33 Claydens Waikohu P2 23, East Coast Roofing OG Whangara 20 TR Builds Horouta Taimana 15.

A Grade: Claydens Waikohu (2) 38 Pioneer 20, GGHS Sr B 27 Whalis 22, Sportsfit 1 30 Whalis 20.

A Reserve: Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 37 Campion Snr A 18, YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 32  GGHS Jr A 20, Gis Glass Ngatapa 26 Tyre General Ngatapa 15.

1st Grade: Claydens Waikohu Social A 32 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 22, Whangara Paikea 24 Sportsfit OG’s 18, OBM Blue 30 Whangara Paikea 27.

1st Reserve: Claydens Waikohu Social B 26 Turanga Pirates Manawa 17, Allwood Enterprises HSOG 39 Sports GCs 22.

2nd Grade: Newman and Newman Ngatapa 13 GGHS Tuakana 9, YMP Manawanui 35 Newman and Newman Ngatapa 11, Sportsfit Social 35 OBM OG 26.