NETBALL - Marist withstand fired-up WGHS

A third quarter of explosive netball from Whangarei Girls' High School rattled a few nerves in the Marist team at Kensington Stadium on Friday in their first 2009 premier grade pool hit-out.
Last year's wooden spooners looked stronger, more skilful and determined as they hit the court in the new-look Friday-night eight-team competition format.
Girls' High coach Hayley Taylor said that, on the whole, she was pleased with the schoolgirls, who had managed to claw their way back into the game after being down at halftime.
"We were down by 10 at halftime so I made a few changes," the physical education and health teacher said. "Luana Beasley had a great half at goal defence - she was really quick on her feet and grabbed some timely intercepts - but we were down by 10 so I switched her to goal attack and the whole team lifted their game."
In the third quarter WGHS forced Marist 1 to turn over the ball and by the end of the period the tally was 28-28 .
Centre Sian Telfer, who has returned to WGHS for Year 12 after attending school at Palmerston North, worked tirelessly, applying pressure on Marist defenders and feeding the ball to her shooters. However, a few ball handling errors in the fourth quarter cost the schoolgirls, who let Marist get away to a 46-36 victory.
It's been a topsy-turvy few years for Girls' High, who three seasons ago won the premier grade.
Having coached the team for two seasons now, Taylor said this was still a rebuilding phase for the side, but she could see positive things on the horizon.
"I think we are a lot stronger team this year. We only have three players from last year's side - Tara Wells, Lauren Bean and Amelia Smith - and the rest are all new, but hopefully we will be able to put it together come the second half of the season."
The schoolgirls' confidence had been boosted when they caught up to Marist in the third quarter, proving they could be competitive this year, Taylor said.
Last year's premiers Marist Old Girls hit the courts next, up against Takahiwai who returned to premier grade this year.
The match was even until Marist Old Girls broke away to a convincing 56-31 victory in the final half.
Takahiwai player/coach Deborah Harding said it would be survival of the fittest for teams this season, and her side would have to work hard to maintain the standard it took to stay in premier grade.
Meanwhile, at Kamo High School, Fideliter 1 showed premier grade newcomers Fideliter Development how to win, outplaying them in the second half to a 14-goal lead winning, 40-26.
Whangarei Old Boys and Manawanui had a close tussle, with Manawanui snatching a 46-44 victory.
Following the first round of competition, teams seemed to be in agreement that shifting premier grade games indoors and making all matches 60 minutes from the season's start was a positive move, resulting in faster, more dynamic netball.