Netball: Top teams turn up the heat

Potter Electrical Onerahi and Northland Coastal Development Whangaruru Combined look to be the early pacesetters in the Educare North Premier Netball competition after notching up big wins for the second week running.

Despite going down 74-38, Takahiwai will be pleased with their start against Whangaruru as there were only three goals in it at the end of the first quarter, and six at the half. However, the second half was an entirely different story on Saturday with Whangaruru going from strength to strength. This coincided with a particularly low-scoring quarter by Takahiwai which helped cement their fate.

Lettica Shelford and Liahona Hebden worked tirelessly in defence for Whangaruru and proved an annoyance to the Takahiwai shooters. In mid-court, Kea Randall coming on in the second half at wing attack showed patience and provided some outstanding feeds into the shooters. Randall combined well with Jaimee Lee Tito at centre for most of the game and had another strong performance. Morgan Taurua at goal shoot in the second half played a strong game and put good defensive pressure on when the ball was lost.

For Takahiwai, their defence team of Kaylah Chapman and Morgana Nathan made it difficult for the Whangaruru shooters, particularly in the first half, and they came up with some good tips and intercepts.

Onerahi were dominant in their game against Active Refrigeration Fideliter 2 as they ran out winners by 67-25.

For Onerahi 1, Jayne Southee was the standout player performing strongly in a pivotal role in the mid court linking the defence and attack.

Petrice Tarrant at wing attack showed some strong drives to the circle edge on attack and Sharleece Ross Hill at goal attack also had a good game bringing the ball down the court and providing some accurate shooting.

Treewise Marist also continued their strong start to the season by rolling WGHS 1 45-30 in a great match up with the young WGHS team really showing that they could be competitive this week.

For Marist, Harmony Kingi at wing defence applied good pressure around the goal circle and throughout the court.

Kimberley Ruth started at wing attack and had a great attacking game and provided some good feed ball to the shooters. She then went to wing defence where she read play well and got a number of intercepts and picked up some loose ball.

For WGHS 1, the defence combination of Simone Nordstrom and Shannon George was effective and they both played a strong and effective game. And up until the final quarter, where a lack of consistent shooting allowed Marist to pull ahead, Manaaki Peri and Olivia Lobb at goal shoot and goal attack provided good space in the circle and shot well.

The game between Active Refrigeration Fideliter 1 and Manawanui Red was another good game with not a lot in it.

It was also the lowest scoring, see-sawing match with the ball being driven back and forth down the court by both teams eager to convert it into goals. The first and final quarters only had two goals difference so Fideliter 1 made the gains in the second and third quarters to take out the game 49 goals to 34.

Educare North Premier results:

Treewise Marist vs. WGHS 1, 45-30; Potter Electrical Onerahi 1 vs. Active Refrigeration Fideliter 2, 67-25; Northland Coastal Development Whangaruru Combined vs. Takahiwai 1, 74-38; Active Refrigeration Fideliter 1 vs. Manawanui Red 49-34.