Out to turn ‘L’ into ‘W’

Warning signs: YMP laid down a solid marker in premier grade netball from the get-go with a 28-8 win over Whangara Old Girls 1. Pictured in action during that game are YMP wing attack Ata Mangu and Whangara centre Taryn Walford. Both teams are in action tomorrow. Picture by Liam Clayton

GISBORNE senior netballers face their second game of the 2023 season at Victoria Domain tomorrow and both premier grade encounters coud be be close contests.

The Pak’nSave-sponsored competition features Whangara Old Girls 1 against Gisborne Girls High Senior A at 10am and YMP Turanga FM clashing with Horouta Koura at midday.

“Both teams lost last weekend, so they will be out to change to the winning side tomorrow,” netball commentator Sherrill Beale said of the Whangara-GGHS game.

Whangara were well beaten, 28-8, by YMP Turanga FM, while the students went down 35-26 to Claydens Waikohu.

“Both struggled under the pressure their opponents put on them last week, so I am sure they would have worked on strategies to counteract that.”

The last two round-robin games between the sides in 2022 were close wins to Whangara, with the students earning losing bonus points.

“So I am expecting another close, competitive game,” Beale said.

The YMP-Horouta Koura game has the potential to be fascinating.

“YMP started strongly against Whangara last week and worked together well as a team on attack and in defence.

“Horouta Koura had the bye last week, so they will be itching to start with a win.” Beale said.

“They beat YMP by a goal in their match-up in the Kathleen Henderson tournament earlier this month.

“But those tournament games were only 16 minutes long, whereas Saturday’s game is 40 minutes.

“Horouta Koura will need the whole team combining to match it with YMP over the longer time period,” Beale said.

Defending champions YMP have signalled their intentions straight out of the box .

Waikohu 1 have the bye this weekend.

“Our seniors will be on the Victoria Domain courts from 9am through to 2pm tomorrow.”

After tomorrow’s games, teams will have a two-week break because of Easter Weekend and the middle weekend of the school holidays.