YMP make a premier point

YMP’s wing attack Ana Naden receives a pass with Saffron Eparaima in close contact. YMP (1) and Whangara Old Girls produced a completely different result in premier netball from last year’s grand final, won narrowly by Whangara on that occasion. On Saturday YMP romped away to win comprehensively. Pictures by Paul Rickard

YMP turned the tables on defending premier grade netball champions Whangara Old Girls at Victoria Domain on Saturday and ran out convincing winners in a rematch of last year’s grand finalists.

Other premier winners on Saturday were Clayden’s Waikohu and Horouta Koura.

Turanga FM YMP came out firing from the first whistle against Whangara Old Girls, took a six-goal lead by the end of the first quarter and kept going.

The second quarter was more even, but YMP piled  on the pressure in the third and fourth quarters, and pulled away. The quarter scores tell the story of the game —  9/3, 14/7, 24/8 and they won 37-10.

They won the third by 10 goals to 1, the fourth by 13 to 2.

YMP had a close loss in the first week but definitely turned the tables on Saturday.

The result has put them on the same points as WOG (1).

Claydens Waikohu (1) defeated Character Roofing YMP 27-23. They led 8/3 after the first quarter, 12/10 at half time, 20/17 at the three-quarter mark.

Waikohu (1) have made a good start to the year with two wins from two games, but both have been close.

YMP (2) lost by a large margin last week, but worked on their shortcomings during the week and produced some good passages of play to push Waikohu (1).

They were down by six at the first quarter, but won the second quarter to pull the deficit back to two  by halftime.

The next two quarters were just as close and YMP were unlucky to not collect a bonus point.

TR Builds Horouta Koura beat Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior A 32-19. Horouta led all the way —  7/5, 16/10. 21/16. Horouta have had two convincing wins to be leading the grade with Waikohu (1).

They took the lead from the start and were leading by six goals at halftime. The students were more settled in the third, but Horouta had a strong 4th quarter to outscore GGHS  11 goals to 3.

Intermediate and secondary grades completed their grading and the seniors continued their first round.

results (bonus point for scoring margin of 3 goals or less) - Premier Reserve: East Coast Roofing OG Whangara 17 Steve Craill Ngatapa 26, TR Builds Horouta Taimana 13 Aorangi Contracting HSOG 27.

A Grade: Sportsfit 1 33 First Light Electrical GGHS Snr B 17, Whalis 23 Claydens Waikohu (2) 18.

A Reserve: GGHS Jnr A 19 Tyre General Ngatapa 19, YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 31 Campion Snr A 6.

1st Grade: Sportsfit (2) 33 Claydens Waikohu Social A 17, Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 14 OBM Blue 16.

1st Reserve: TR Builds Horouta Hiriwa 15 Claydens Waikohu Social B 26, TR Builds Horouta Hiriwa 8 Sportsfit GCs 22, Turanga Pirates Manawa 24 Allwood Enterprises HSOG 26.

Second Grade: Newman and Newman Ngatapa 22 OBM OG 24, YMP Manawanui 32 GGHS Tuakana 3, Sportsfit Social 35 GGHS Tuakana 14.

There will be three games of premier grade netball in the YMCA on Wednesday night. At  6pm GGHS Snr A v Claydens Waikohu (1), 7pm Whangara OG (1) v TR Builds Horouta Koura, 8pm Turanga FM YMP v Character Roofing YMP.