by Sherrill Beale
DEFENDING premier grade netball champions YMP started the senior season with a hiss and a roar when they demolished Whangara Old Girls by 20 goals at Victoria Domain on Saturday.
The first round of the PAK’nSAVE netball competition was blessed with a sunny day, and it was good to
see the netball whānau back on the courts.
YMP Turanga FM defeated Whangara Old Girls 28-8, a surprising scoreline.
They were up 5-3 at the end of the first quarter, 18-5 at halftime, and 21-6 at three-quartertime.
The scoreline signals that defending champions YMP intend to continue their winning ways this season.
The score was close in the first quarter, but YMP put their foot down in the second and pressured Whangara into errors, which they capitalised on to lead by 13 goals at halftime.
YMP goal circle defenders Keasi Fonohema and Bronya McMenamin worked as a team and the Whangara shooters struggled to make their shots count.
Fonohema and McMenamin were out hunting the ball coming into the shooters. They also had a strong presence over the ball while the shot was being taken, and then collected many rebounds.
Both coaches tried different combinations, but for Whangara it was a tough outing to start the season.
In the other premier grade game in Round 1, Claydens Waikohu beat Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A 35-26.
The quarter scores tell the story . . . Waikohu led 12-5, 21-12 and 31-18.
Waikohu started strongly. Their players worked together and moved the ball at speed through the court.
Shooters Marcia Beale and Princess Tomoana moved around the goal circle well and gave their feeders good options.
At the other end, goal defenders Humaria Higgins and Karen Matiaha pressured every pass going into the students’ shooters and collected several intercepts.
At the end of the first quarter, Girls’ High trailed by seven, but they settled over the rest of the game and won the last quarter.
As their confidence grew, they were able to withstand the tight Waikohu defensive pressure throughout the court.
Both coaches made changes in each of the quarters, trying to settle on their combinations.
Waikohu’s strong start gave them the edge for the whole game.
Other scores (* bonus point — score within three goals) —
Premier Reserve: HSOG 32 YMP Masters 27, YMP (2) 19 Ngatapa Green 17*, Whangara OG (2) 21 Horouta Taimana 21.
A Grade: Waikohu P2 40 Enterprise Cars OBM 32, Claydens Waikohu (2) 44 Lytton Snr A 13, The Tav Sportsfit 32 FarmCare HSOG 28.
A Reserve: YMP Hinetaiohi Whakato 32 GGHS Jnr A 29*, GGHS Snr B 21 Ngatapa White 16, Whalis 29 Campion Snr A 15.
First Grade: Ngatapa Blue 24 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 19, Sportsfit Old Girls 23 Allwood Enterprises HSOG 14, GGHS Tuakana 31 OBM White 20.
First Reserve: OBM OG 25 Uawa Nui 22*, Thistle Storm 24 Sportsfit (2) 4, Horouta Hiriwa 21 Sportsfit Social 8.
Second Grade: Whatatutu 34 YMP Manawanui 20, Claydens Waikohu (4) 29 Horouta Kohatu 3, XLR8 29 Ngatapa Red 6.
