Promoted side Wahine Toa Combined have opened their account in Premier Reserve Grade netball competition with a 44-31 win.
Saturday's premier grade had two newly promoted teams: Wahine Toa Combined (promoted from the club side of the draw) and Huanui College Silver, promoted from the College side.
Wahine Toa Combined justified their promotion against Manawanui Blue, with an impressive display. Captain Te Aroha Palmer was integral in leading the team in their return to the Premier Reserve grade as they started strongly and led at the half time break. But it was in the third quarter that they cemented their position. The mother-daughter shooting combination of Donna Stratford and Dannielle Barlow executed the game plan well, and were effective in converting the intercepts made at the defence end by Eyvette Branson. For Manawanui Blue, Monique Puru shot well, and was calm in the circle, making herself available.
The top ranked Hora Hora 1 played the other promoted side, schoolgirls Huanui College Silver. Hora Hora pulled up both Gael Broughton and Wendy McCall to cover for injured players and the team started strongly and were ahead by 8 at half time. However, in the second half Huanui held off further advances from the more senior side (perhaps due to a fitness advantage), proving that their promotion was justified. Huanui dug deep and led by Therese Nagel at wing attack, who fed her shooters clean ball, the lead did not get much greater. Hora Hora held on for a 39-30 win. The final match of the day was between WGHS Snr 2 and Marist 1. The defence pair of Tayla Morgan and Ricco Niha for WGHS combined well and came away with a number of tips and intercepts.
The team's overall defensive effort was instrumental in securing their comprehensive win over Marist.
