Court action will settle test

Wairarapa College and Harcourts clash at the Colombo Rd courts tomorrow in the final of this year's Netball Wairarapa premier one competition has all the elements of a hot favourite versus the underdog game.
And it's something that both teams are aware of with Wairarapa College coach Jacqui Southey realistic about her team's prospects.
"If we don't bring our best game on court then we'll be in trouble," Southey said.
"We'll be working this week on eliminating the mistakes we made last Saturday in the semifinal, mostly going forward on attack. We won't get away with that sort of thing in the final."
Southey was also conscious of the need for consistency through all four quarters of the game.
"We've tended to have three good quarters and one which isn't up to scratch," she said. "The girls will be reminded about that.
"This is an all or nothing situation. That's the whole story of finals netball. We'll be going out knowing there's nothing to lose."
Southey has a full squad available for the final and it will be a surprise if she makes many, if any, changes to the line-up which served her so well against St Matthew's last weekend.
"They're a fit bunch of girls and they will have got over the rigours of last week's tournament."
Southey will also be reinforcing to her young charges that although Harcourts have remained unbeaten through the season they shouldn't be overwhelmed by the occasion and should go out and play their best game.
"We know that when it comes to a final, upsets can happen ... in fact, not that long ago. We would like to think that history can repeat itself."
Very much the same thought is also running through the mind of Harcourt coach Kelly Sargent.
"Don't remind me," Sargent said. "We went in to the final against St Matthew's three years ago as hot favourites and they beat us ... That was a real lesson to us."
Consequently, Sargent will be reminding her players about the dangers of complacency despite their been there done that history and unbeaten record this season.
"We've got an experienced line-up and depth off the bench," Sargent said. "We know we're favourites but we also know things will be tough on the day.
"They train outdoors and we see that as an advantage to them.
"We train indoors and that suits our style of play."
Sargent will sit out the final due to injury but otherwise the Harcourts line-up will be at full strength.
"We'd like to think we can dominate proceedings and build up a respectable lead by around half-time and then use the bench," Sargent said. "It would be good to finish the season on a winning note having used the whole squad."
Wairarapa College will need to contain Harcourts shooters Astee Karaitiana and Geraldine Carroll and will be looking to goal keep Courtney Hamilton to repeat her outstanding performance of last weekend.
"Courtney had a superb game against St Matthew's," Southey said. "We'll be wanting more of the same in the final. Her intercepts and reading of the game were magnificent and she put us on the front foot time and time again."
Southey was also delighted with the composure and accuracy under pressure of her shooters, Grace Southey and Judy Brown, and will be hoping for more of the same tomorrow.
Midcourt may be the area where the game is won or lost and, with the likes of Carleen Karaitiana, Emma Foote and Joe de Vries, Harcourts may hold the edge.
The outcome of the final may well depend on how well Wairarapa College can negate this threat and use their own possession to full advantage.
From left to right: Jacqui Southey (coach), Raewyn Cavubati, Grace Koskela, Sarah Warren, Lily McGilvary, Grace Southey, Beka Atkinson, Courtney Hamilton, Bill Cavubati (fitness coach) and Charlotte Mossman. (Judy Brown absent due to illness).