Waikohu are the 2024 Gisborne Premier Grade champions for the first time in their 19 years after a sensational 57-53 victory over YMP (1) in the final at the YMCA on Saturday. Back row (from left) are Wayne Clayden, Lyric Wesche, Marcia Beale, Kelly Wood, Ashleigh Brown (holding Manawa Lloyd), Charlene Ngatoro, coach Lee-Anne Kiwara, Arahia Tuhua and Shari Puna. Front: Sue Clayden, Karyn Matiaha, Humaria Higgins, Alex Sinclair, Princess Tomoana, Ryan Ruru, Teeghan Ruru and Aarika Ruru
Photo / Murray Robertson
Waikohu are the 2024 Gisborne Premier Grade champions for the first time in their 19 years after a sensational 57-53 victory over YMP (1) in the final at the YMCA on Saturday. Back row (from left) are Wayne Clayden, Lyric Wesche, Marcia Beale, Kelly Wood, Ashleigh Brown (holding Manawa Lloyd), Charlene Ngatoro, coach Lee-Anne Kiwara, Arahia Tuhua and Shari Puna. Front: Sue Clayden, Karyn Matiaha, Humaria Higgins, Alex Sinclair, Princess Tomoana, Ryan Ruru, Teeghan Ruru and Aarika Ruru
Photo / Murray Robertson
In a barnstorming final quarter, Waikohu made netball history on Saturday afternoon when they surged ahead of YMP to win the Gisborne Premier Grade grand final 57-53 and hoist the Jan Duncan Memorial cup.
The capacity crowd in the Gisborne YMCA were on the edge of their seats as Claydens Waikohu (1) came from behind in the final 15 minutes — having trailed by as many as nine goals earlier in the game — to win the title for the first time in the club’s 19-year history.
There were hugs all around and tears of joy from the ecstatic Waikohu team and their fans when the final whistle sounded.
The Waikohu end of the specatator stand in the YMCA erupted time and again in the final 15 minutes as their side surged ahead to win the title. Photo / Murray Robertson
The large crowd was thoroughly entertained by excellent skills from both teams.
Waikohu made the better start and quickly put four goals on the board before YMP slotted their first.
However, the lead was shortlived as YMP settled and levelled it at 10 apiece before collecting and converting a couple of turnovers to take the lead for the first time and go into the break by two.
YMP continued their determined play in the second period, with players working together and delivering the ball at speed through the court to be finished off by dead-eye Skudder.
At one stage, YMP were nine goals ahead and there was the feeling they would run away with the game.
However, Waikohu made some positional changes and began the task of pulling back the deficit.
Both teams worked extremely hard — scoring off their own centre pass, then pressuring the opposition in an effort to create turnovers.
Waikohu, however, began to assert themselves on the court and scoreboard. With five minutes to go to the end of the third quarter, YMP’s advantage was gone as Waikohu drew level at 35-all.
The full-on contest for the ball between the two teams continued, with YMP enjoying another run of goals to pull ahead and go into the three-quarter break 42-39 ahead.
Both teams made changes again for the last 15 minutes and it was Waikohu who adjusted faster, scoring the first three goals to square the ledger at 42-all.
The clutch moment in the final when Waikohu goal shoot Marcia Beale put this shot away to get her team in front in the last quarter. She and Princess Tomoana (goal attack) shot brilliantly after that to keep their side ahead. Photo / Murray Robertson
This surge was the catalyst to lifting the Waikohu team as history beckoned. They opened up the court and let the ball go with confidence to shooters Marcia Beale and Princess Tomoana, who scored seven goals in a row, lifting their supporters’ applause and cheers to a whole new level.
Halfway through that last quarter, Waikohu had forged a 51-44 lead as the intensity rose to new heights. Play went goal for goal for a couple of minutes until YMP collected a couple of turnovers to reduce the deficit to five, then four.
But Waikohu kept their cool and their fans and players alike erupted in celebration as fulltime was called.
It was difficult to single out players because all worked hard on attack and defence to deliver a spectacle that was the perfect way to bring the 2024 Gisborne netball season to an end, ably officiated by umpires Shanan Gray and Pania Tomoana.
“It’s taken a whole team to win and I’m so proud of the girls. We had nothing to lose and they all went for it.”
She also thanked their sponsor, Claydens at Te Karaka, for its ongoing support.
YMP coach Meka Whaitiri congratulated Waikohu on the win.
”They clearly wanted it more than us. It’s a game of four quarters and in the final quarter we died. We’ve not had pressure games like this all season and it’s hard to prepare for games like this without those pressure games. We’ll take this result away and come back stronger next year.”
Skudder said it was a privilege to be coached by Whaitiri.
“We hope we have done our families and our friends proud. Thanks to all our whānau, especially those behind the scenes.”
Waikohu, runners-up in 2022, were presented the Jan Duncan Memorial.
YMP won the Jan Duncan Trophy as runners-up to go along with the Māori Women’s Welfare League Cup for highest goal average (goals scored) and the Bess Logan Memorial Cup for the lowest goal average (goals conceded) in Premier Grade — the fourth year in a row YMP have won the goal average awards.
At the start of the Premier prizegiving, Netball New Zealand president, former umpire and passionate netball supporter Tina Karaitiana cut a cake celebrating 100 years of netball in the country.
The senior finals at Victoria Domain also featured close and exciting games.
The biggest margin in those finals was 10 goals, two games were decided by one goal and one final went into extra time.
Brendan Fry Builder Sportsfit awarded the Tina Karaitiana Cup and Basketball Cup for most improved team. TR Builds Horouta Taimana awarded the Jaymee Watson Memorial Cup.
A Grade: Whalis 31 Claydens Waikohu (2) 30.
Whalis awarded the Stoneham Cup and GNC Millennium Cup for the highest goal average in A Grade. Claydens Waikohu (2) awarded the Shirley Smith Cup.
1st Grade: Claydens Waikohu Social B 31 Smash Palace Sportsfit 21.
Claydens Waikohu Social B awarded the Tait Family Cup and GNC Cup for highest goal average in grades below A Grade. Smash Palace Sportsfit awarded the PB Umpires Cup.
