Premier wins to Whangara, YMP

YMP (1) wing attack Maia Rickard gets both hands on the ball between YMP (2) centre Huntin Hooper and wing defence Katrina Smith in a Round 2 Premier Grade netball game at the YMCA. The No.1 side won this derby clash comfortably and are expected to extend their unbeaten points table record for 2023 to eight in a row in a Round 3 YMP derby in the Y tomorrow. Picture by Liam Clayton

The top two teams in Premier Grade netball reinforced their standings with Wednesday night victories in the YMCA.

Second-placed Whangara Old Girls saw off Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A 50-41 in a close Pak’nSave Premier contest.

Competition leaders Turanga FM (1) overwhelmed Farmlands Ngatapa 58-15 — making it seven wins from seven games for the defending champions.

Experience proved key to Whangara’s win in what was a good display of netball skills from both sides.

The teams matched each other early on — driving speedily to the ball, passing strongly and slickly, and working the ball nicely into their shooters.

Towards the end of the second quarter Whangara tipped several passes, collected the turnovers and turned that loose ball into points to pull away to an eight-goal lead at the halftime break.

Sharp play from both sides, especially in and around the goal circle, continued in the third quarter.

The students ate into their deficit and reduced the margin to four goals at one stage, but by the end of the quarter Whangara were six in front.

The last quarter was intense as both sides tightened their defences, causing many tips and players scrambling for loose balls, which in turn resulted in contact calls.

Whangara’s experienced players — particularly Tania Adamson and Nardia Whaitiri-White — were influential at this stage.

They hung off their opponents, giving the illusion that the space was free for the students to pass and then whipped in for intercepts.

There were impressive intercepts throughout the game and these were greatly enjoyed by the spectators.

Both teams’ shooters, Tiara Weir for Whangara and Kassie Owen for Girls’ High, played well by moving around the goal circle, positioning themselves to collect passes and finishing off.

In the second match on Wednesday night, YMP were far too strong for 2023 Premier newcomers Ngatapa.

From the opening whistle YMP played as one on attack and defence in an impressive all-round performance.

Their invisible links are developing extremely well while bringing on their bench players didn’t alter the fast flow of the ball down the middle of the court.

Ngatapa struggled under YMP’s relentless pressure, resulting in wayward passes and YMP capitalising and pulling further ahead.

Wednesday’s two games were the opening clashes of Round 3 of the competition.

Last Saturday’s cancelled games — Horouta Koura v Claydens Waikohu (1) and Whangara Old Girls v Charcter Roofing YMP (2) — will be played at a later date.

Round 3 continues tomorrow morning with two games in the YMCA.

Waikohu and Horouta coincidentally face each other in their Round 3 openers.

Both sides have produced some good netball in recent games and the last time they met resulted in a two-goal win to Horouta, so this could be another close encounter.

YMP (1) play YMP (2) in a 10.30am game.

The No.1s have been playing strongly  in all areas of the court and have set themselves up for a perfect season.

YMP (2) have settled well into Premier netball since being promoted from Premier Reserve but will need the whole team working together for the full hour to have any chance of stemming their clubmates’ flow of ball.

Over at the Victoria Domain courts, all other grades will be in action from 9am.

Intermediate Grade A and Secondary Grade A are into the semifinal stages.

Year 5 & 6 futureFerns play their last games of the season.