An intriguing battle of wits is in prospect when Harcourts and Wairarapa College meet in the grand final of Netball Wairarapa's premier one competition in Masterton tomorrow.
That Harcourts deserve to start warm favourites cannot be questioned but there was enough sting in the effort of Wairarapa College when they comfortably defeated Pioneer Blue in their semifinal last weekend to suggest they will give a strong account of themselves, stronger even perhaps than that when the two sides clashed in the 2010 final. Harcourts were also everybody's pick then and, while they won, there were only three goals in it at the end.
Wairarapa College will have to decide whether the "in-your-face" style of play that worked well against Pioneer Blue will be just as successful against the experienced Harcourts unit.
Whereas Pioneer Blue regularly turned over ball in pressure situations and allowed Wairarapa College to dominate possession - especially in the second and third quarters - Harcourts are unlikely to fall into that trap.
That being the case it will be crucial to the Wairarapa College cause that their aggressive intent isn't allowed to overshadow the importance of swift, accurate passing and the creating of time and space for shooters Judy Brown and Keiha Isaia-Hapimana to keep the scoreboard ticking over. And that won't be easy as in Sarah Watson and Shontelle Renata Harcourts have two defenders who know all the tricks of the trade.
Harcourts, for their part, are unlikely to do anything different from normal. They tend to stretch the defensive capabilities of their opposition through quick and clever changes of direction with centre Katie Wyeth a vital component in that scheme of things. She often turns defence into counter attack through well-timed intercepts. Keeping Wyeth under wraps will be a huge test for her Wairarapa College opposite, Danielle McKay. The latter can, however, take confidence from a strong showing against Pioneer Blue where she was a dominating influence in midcourt.
In Kelly Sargent and Geraldine Carroll, Harcourts have what would have to be the most lethal shooting combination in the grade. Wairarapa College circle defenders Kahu Brown and Georgia Faraimo will have their hands full coping with them. Their hard-nose attitude impressed last weekend and they will need more of that here.
Other finals tomorrow: Premier reserve: Makoura College v Carterton New World Lynx at noon. Premier two: Wairarapa College B v Carterton New World Red at 10.30am. Premier three: St Matthew's B v Eketahuna at noon. Premier four: Carterton New World White v Featherston Blue at 11am. Senior A: Hiona v Carterton New World Social at 11am.