Champs down Pioneer

Centre Katie Wyeth was outstanding as defending champions Harcourts staved off a determined challenge from previously unbeaten Pioneer Blue 40-30 in the feature Netball Wairarapa premier one top six playoff match at the Colombo Road courts on Saturday.

Wyeth made several vital intercepts on defence while her ability to find open spaces, coupled with the speed and accuracy of her service into the shooters, also made her a leading light on attack.

Both sides struggled to make the most of their scoring opportunities throughout the match.

Particularly in the opening stanzas when several prime chances to score went begging.

Pioneer Blue did score the first couple of goals but once Harcourts settled into their rhythm they slowly but surely gained the ascendancy.

Harcourts led by seven goals at the end of the first quarter. Pioneer Blue were always in catch-up mode from there and the margin between the sides had increased to double figures by the final whistle. Wairarapa College scored an important and surprisingly comfortable 49-29 win over St Matthew's Collegiate with victory taking them into the top four. Martinborough also guaranteed their place there with a commanding 43-32 win over Celtic.

Other results:

Premier reserve: Carterton Legends 45, Carterton Lynx 44; Trevs 1 51, Gladstone 2 50; Makoura A 35, Gladstone 1 32.

Premier two: Makoura B 27, Wairarapa College B2 22; Kuranui A 28, Greytown Red 19; Carterton Red 23, Wairarapa College B 10.

Premier three: Wairarapa College Intermediate A 38, Makoura development 24; St Matthew's B 17, St Matthew's Junior A 14; CLM Elite 20, St Matthew's Junior A 7; Makoura development 24, Solway A 21; St Matthew's B 22, Wairarapa College Intermediate A 14; Eketahuna 28, Pioneer Red 26.

Premier four: Carterton White 19, Nga Iwi 13; Featherston 23, East Coast 19; Wairarapa College Junior A 33, Chanel A 27; Trevs 2 34, Martinborough 2 17.

Senior A: Hiona 23, Carterton Blue 20; Wairarapa College Senior Gold 32, Lansdowne 30; Masterton Flames 30, St Matthew's Gold 12.

Senior reserve: Wairarapa College Intermediate Gold 22, Kura Teina 22; St Matthew's Junior B 26, Kuranui Junior A 12.

Senior B: Chanel Red 17, Wairarapa College Senior Blue 13; Solway B 21, Wairarapa College Junior Gold 9; Chanel Blue 21, Kuranui B 20.

Senior C: St Matthew's Junior C 11, St Matthew's Junior D 5; Kuranui Junior B 14, St Matthew's Junior E 9; Wairarapa College Intermediate Blue 20, Solway C 10.

Primary results:

Grade one final: MIS Year 8A 23, St Matthew's A 18.

Grade two final: Greytown Red 22, Carterton Whero 20.

Grade three final: Wainuioru Wildcats 26, MIS Cheetahs 10.

Grade four final: DPS Pulse 26, Lakeview Flames 17.

Grade five final: Hadlow Flyers 10, DPS Tactix 9.

Grade six: Carterton Kowhai 14, Greytown White 1; Lakeview Sting 10, DPS Steelo 8; Greytown Yellow 17, St Pat's Comets 6.

Grade seven: Wainuioru Junior Wildcats 17, MPS Wasps 4; Carterton Kakariki 21, Rangiatea 4.