Girls High prove too strong for Old Boys

Whangarei Girls High School 1 had the biggest win of the round in Whangarei Netball's premier grade netball competition, when they defeated Old Boys 75-46.
This was largely due to an outstanding game by Shannon French in mid court working tirelessly in bringing the ball through the court and accurate high passes to the tall WGHS shooter Alanah Vinson, who then shot at almost 100 per cent during Friday's game.
Jamiee Lee Tito and Rose Baker in defence also paired up nicely to apply good defensive pressure in the circle.
For Old Boys, the coach felt Judith Barber and Eden Cherrington on defence worked hard and enthusiastically and goal attack Patricia Davis made an impact on the game when she came on in the second quarter. Electrotrade Manawanui started the championship round with a 63-48 win over Takahiwai 1.
Manawanui's wing attack Adelaide Campbell provided some precise feeding into the circle in the first half, while in the second half, Nadia Tana at centre played an energetic game and made herself available throughout the court.
Melanie Leef on defence had another busy game with tips and intercepts. Takahiwai were missing a number of key players cumulating in the coach, Deb Harding coming on for half a game.
She and Belinda Dawson in defence did some excellent work and overall Dawson had a great game against the fast and accurate Manawanui shooters.
Kyla Chapman who played half a game at goal keep, then half a game at goal shoot played well at both ends of the court.
Takahiwai did manage to win the final quarter, albeit by just one goal.
The two Semco Group Onerahi teams met for the second time and the Onerahi 1 team won 56-35.
Jayne Southee at centre provided great speed on attack and managed to get a lot of tips and intercepts for her team. Overall though, the Onerahi 1 team lacked their normal drive and punch. Onerahi 2's Judy Macdonald at goal attack had a confident game with some accurate shooting and the defensive combination of Andrea Cameron, Tracey Stewart and Kim Leemeyer worked hard and came up with some good turnover ball.
In the final game of the night the newly promoted Dive Inn Whangaruru team came up against Semenoff Transport Fideliter 1, and lost 62-42.
Fideliter 1 dominated the first half but in the second half Whangaruru came into their stride and only lost the last two quarters by three goals. Fideliter 1 goal keep Alisha Takimoana was a good match up against the tall Whangaruru shooter. Goal attack Trina Henare was a workhorse for the Fideliter team and did a volume of work on attack and on defence. During the game the whole Fideliter unit worked well as a team, with some decisive and crisp passes and some nice finishing by Nicky Taylor at goal shoot. Whangaruru goal attack Sophie Tua did a lot of work directing and taking the play. Harriet Hardy in defence came up with some good ball and she was capably backed up on attack and defence by the mature and experienced Jackie Henare at wing defence. In the second half Caysha Kingi at centre, then wing attack had a strong attacking game.