Still no stopping YMP on their winning streak

CLOSE CONTEST: The obvious intensity in this possession exchange sums up the battle in the Waikohu v Horouta premier grade netball encounter on Saturday as Ngahuria Akania (left), Ashleigh Brown and Skye Swann fight for the ball. Horouta won by two goals. Picture by Paul Rickard

by Sherrill Beale and Murray Robertson

YMP continued on their unbeaten way and Horouta Koura produced the standout result of the season to date in Round 1 netball at Victoria Domain on Saturday.

Horouta knocked over last year’s premiership runners-up Claydens Waikohu (1) in a hard-fought thriller.

Waikohu led 10-4 after the first quarter, then 19-13 at halftime.

But Horouta came back at them in the second half, levelled it at 22-all by three-quartertime and went on to win 30-28.

The last quarter was virtually goal for goal before Horouta pulled ahead to take the win.

This was the second game for both of these teams.

Waikohu had to be content with a bonus point which still leaves them in second spot, while Horouta Koura moved to third place, level with Whangara Old Girls.

In other Premier Grade action, YMP Turanga FM controlled their match against Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A, winning it 36-21

They led throughout, with quarter scores of 8-5, 15-11 and 23-16.

The students needed to make a better start as they had been catching up in the second half in their past two games.

They did that reasonably well in the first half but let things slip in the second.

YMP remain top of the grade with three wins from three games.

The points table has YMP on 12, Waikohu on five, Whangara and Horouta on four,  and Girls’High on one.

The Premier Reserve table has YMP (2) — three games, three wins — on 12 points, High School Old Girls on eight, Horouta Taimana on six, YMP Masters and Farmlands Ngatapa on five, and Old Girls Whangara on two.

The top two teams from this grade will challenge the bottom two teams from the premier grade, starting on Wednesday, May 10.

Next week the school teams will start their games.

Years 1 and 2 start on Thursday, years 3 and 4 on Friday, and years 5 and 6 and intermediate and secondary grades on Saturday.

Results from Saturday (** bonus point earned for loss within three goals) —

Premier: YMP 36 GGHS Snr A 21, Waikohu (1) 28** Horouta Koura 30.

Premier Reserve: Old Girls Whangara 12 Farmlands Ngatapa 30, Horouta Taimana 29 HSOG 23, YMP Masters 22** YMP (2) 25.

A Grade: Waikohu (2) 35 Enterprise Cars OBM Blue 20, The Tav Sportsfit 26** Waikohu P2 28.

A Reserve: GGHS Snr B 28 GGHS Jnr A 19, Whalis 45 YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 29, Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 37 Campion Snr A 25.

First Grade: OBM White 25 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 34, Tyre General Ngatapa 22 Allwood Enterprises HSOG 13, Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit OG 34 GGHS Tuakana 12.

First Reserve: Thistle Storm 27 Horouta Hiriwa 22, Tatapouri Sportsfit Social 29 Uawa Nui 35, Sportsfit (2) 19 OBM OG 23.

Second Grade: Whatatutu 25 Horouta Kohatu 13, YMP Manawanui 29 Gisborne Glass Ngatapa 15, Waikohu (4) 20 XLR8 15.