Wairarapa scored a timely 50-26 win over Maidstone United in their regional superleague netball match played at the Genesis Recreation Centre in Masterton on Friday night.
After two successive losses the defending champions were desperate to get back to winning form, and acting coach Sophie Paki was delighted with the manner
in which victory was achieved.
She said the message was for each individual to give 100 per cent to the team effort, and they had responded splendidly to that challenge.
The first quarter ended with Wairarapa leading by one goal, and they had increased their advantage to 11 by halftime. At the end of the third quarter their lead had stretched to 18 goals, and they closed off with a 24 goal winning scoreline.
Celia Donaldson at goal keeper, Perri Tatana at goal defence and Lisa Maniherea at wing defence, unsettled the Maidstone shooters and feeders in the defence area with their aggressive play, and shooters Geraldine Carroll and Louis Eaton benefitted from the quick, sharp passing of wing attack Casey Pederson and Logan Karaitiana.
Coming into the shooting area at halftime was Lorraine Maloney, and she showed the ankle injury which she had experienced in the previous game was no longer a problem, while a newcomer to the squad in Caitlin Berry also looked in good form when brought on at centre.
In the final quarter last season's player-coach Kelly Sargent was introduced at goal attack and her experience and tactical nous was patently obvious.
Paki said the style of victory would be a confidence boost to Wairarapa for their remaining matches, and also a reminder to opposing teams that they should not be taken lightly.
"It was a win we needed to get back on track and it was satisfying that it came through a total team effort," she said.
