Netball: Close fight in reserve grade

Whangarei Girls' High School 10-1's wing attack Kelena Roughan takes a pass while Fideliter 2's Keri Boyt at centre sets up to defend. Photo / Judy Macdonald

The first week of the preliminary round for Premier Reserve netball involved teams ranked highest playing those ranked lowest in the grade.

This grade is stacking up as a close and strongly contested competition.

Hora Hora in their first hour-long game were pleased to come away with a narrow win over the Manawanui Development team.

The game was drawn at the first quarter and by halftime Hora Hora had taken the lead by three goals.

At three-quarter-time Manawanui Development had drawn level again but Hora Hora came back to win the game by 40-36.

For Hora Hora, Rachel Pilcher played a strong game at goal shoot and combined well with Marita Walters at goal attack.

For Manawanui Development, goal shoot Paige Neho shot consistently well, putting on an impressive performance.

Ngaire-Ani Mehana at centre fed the shooters well and maintained intensity throughout the game. Havana Campbell Connelly at wing attack played well, helping to bring the ball through the court.

Fideliter 2, who have been relegated from premier grade to the top of premier reserve, were tested when they came up against the young Whangarei Girls' High School (WGHS) 10-1 team.

This game was also drawn at the first quarter and at halftime the WGHS team had taken a narrow lead of three goals.

Fideliter 2 turned this over in the third quarter to lead by two goals, and the final score was 46-43.

For Fideliter 2, Anna Pascoe at wing defence worked hard to keep her opposing wing attack away from the circle edge. She also made herself available through the court on attack.

In the midcourt, Tiletha Everitt at wing attack drove on to the ball, making herself available on attack.

For WGHS 10-1, Ricco Niha at goal keep and Uma Robinson at goal defence combined well and worked tirelessly to apply pressure in the goal circle.

Teaghan Kirby, Kelena Roughan and Natalie Stolz, all in the midcourt, played controlled games and made themselves available, feeding the shooters some great ball.

Saphire Connelly-Parry at goal shoot and Carly Job at goal attack worked the shooting circle well, finishing off with some great shots at goal.

Marist 2 started well against the younger Wahine Toa Whero team to lead at the end of the first quarter by three goals.

Marist 2 had a good comeback in the final quarter but the final score was 50-46 to Wahine Toa.

For Wahine Toa, Whero Maraea Marsden at goal attack worked hard and finished by shooting well. In the midcourt Jacinta Branson and Tumai Shortland displayed nice driving and feeding into the goal circle.

For Marist 2, Tennielle Cherrington at centre was the standout player.