Netball: Otane end emotional week strongly

Otane goal shoot Kelsey McPhee (left) beats Huias goal defence Jade Waldin to the ball as goal attack Kaya Lord awaits the next play. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

GOING into last night's Hawke's Bay Premier Netball League's Super 6 top-of-the-table clash, Otane coach Annemarie Kupa was concerned about emotional fatigue levels.

It had been an emotional week for the defending champions with Otane Thirsty Whale club stalwart Vikki Graham's brother, former Magpie Roger Chappell, killed in a road crash last weekend. Kupa came up with a game plan to suit and rolled subs regularly from the second quarter.

This was a key factor in their 52-33 win against the previously unbeaten side, Hastings High School Old Girls Proactive Huias in Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena. Otane led 14-7 after the first quarter, 28-17 at half-time, and 44-23 after the third quarter.

"All the girls came down to the funeral on Thursday and we dedicated this match to Vikki and Roger. All 11 of our players got game time," Kupa said.

Goal defence Briar Chalmers and goal keep Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey again operated well in the defensive circle. Wing defence Becky Kupa and Trey Faulkner, who had stints at centre and wing attack, ruled the midcourt.

Kupa expected more from the Huias.

"I'm sure they will come back stronger. At the same time, we will get stronger, too, as we used the first round to try different combinations and in the second we will start building those combinations," Kupa added.

Soft turnovers again proved costly for the Huias as Otane were classy on the counter-attack after securing loose ball. Centre Abby Breakwell and goal shoot Emma Vennell had memorable moments for the Huias.

Wing attack Jade Poi provided quality impact off the pine and versatile defender Alex Balhorn impressed coach Rebecca Martin.

"We learnt lots from this game and can only but grow from here. We now know the intensity levels required when you play Otane," Martin said.

The upset of the round saw Super 6 newcomers Outkast Optimise Physio beat All In Elusive 46-39 to secure third place on the points table.

"We're pretty happy. We just wanted to see if we could compete and we did that," an elated Outkast player/coach Jeda Bartlett said afterwards.

Outkast led 25-24 at half-time and 34-31 after the third quarter. All nine Outkast players got game time.

Corra Quinn was again tireless on defence while goal attack Maddie Pakoti combined well with goal shoot Rakei Huata in the attacking circle. Huata succeeded with 37 of her 40 attempts at goal.

In the promotion-relegation game, Havelock North Jazz Apples Kauri pipped Hastings High School Old Girls Keas 54-52. Keas led Kauri 29-25 at half-time. Kauri led 43-40 after the third quarter.

"I'm very happy. It was a good effort and the girls deserve the victory," Kauri coach Angela Harvey said.

"We learnt a lot from last week's loss to Central. We didn't panic under pressure and displayed lots of control," she added.

Midcourter Nikayla Lambert was Kauri's player of the match. The combination between Kauri's feeders and shooters was admirable.