YMP pushed by OG Whangara

No ball comes easy: HSOG goal attack Stacee Fraider-Johnson has Ngatapa goal defence Maria Jefferies applying pressure on the pass. Ngatapa beat HSOG at Victoria Domain on Saturday 45-35. Picture by Paul Rickard

by Sherrill Beale and Murray Robertson

The YMP second team came through the Premier Reserve games with their competition lead intact in senior netball at Victoria Domain on Saturday.

But they had to work hard against a determined Old Girls Whangara side.

YMP (2) won the match 28-25, and Whangara picked up a deserved bonus point.

In the other two games in the grade, Horouta Taimana beat YMP Masters 35-22 and Farmlands Ngatapa beat High School Old Girls 45-35.

These results mean Horouta Taimana lie second in the competition, with Ngatapa third, a point ahead of HSOG.

The Premier Reserve points table, with a game to go before the challenge round, has YMP (2) on 16, Horouta Taimana on 10, Farmlands Ngatapa on nine, HSOG and YMP Masters on five, and Old Girls Whangara on three.

It was a busy day at the courts, with school teams having their first games of the season.

For grading purposes the Intermediate and Secondary grade teams had two games each and the Year 5 and 6 teams had one.

Between 9am and 3pm, 69 games were played.

Other senior results (* Bonus point — score within three goals) —

A Grade: Waikohu P2 37 Claydens Waikohu (2) 29, FarmCare HSOG 35 Enterprise Cars OBM Blue 27.

Waikohu P2 moved into top spot with their win.

A Reserve: Gisborne Girls’ High School Senior B 32 Campion Snr A 15, Whalis 41 GGHS Jnr A 31, YMP Hine Taiohi Whakato 25 Steve Craill Builder Ngatapa 24*.

GGHS Sen B continue to lead this grade, with Whalis one point behind them.

First Grade: Allwood Enterprises HSOG 24 GGHS Tuakana 18, Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit OG 24 Uawa Ngarangikahiwa 20, Tyre General Ngatapa 44 OBM White 21.

Sportsfit OG continue to lead this grade.

​First Reserve: Thistle Storm 43 Uawa Nui 14, Horouta Hiriwa 33 Tatapouri Sportsfit (2) 8, OBM OG 33 Sportsfit Social 23.

OBM OG lead this grade.

Second Grade: Horouta Kohatu defeated YMP Manawanui by default, Waikohu (4) 46 Gis Glass Ngatapa 24, XLR8 18 Whatatutu 17*.

Even though Whatatutu lost, their bonus point keeps them top of the table; XLR8 and Waikohu (4) are one point behind them.

In premier grade action at the YMCA on Wednesday night, Horouta Koura will play GGHS Snr A at 6pm, and Claydens Waikohu (1) will play Whangara Old Girls at 7.30pm.