Wairarapa earn final spot with total control

Wairarapa College deservedly booked the other finals berth in this year's Wairarapa Premier One netball competition when defeating St Matthew's Collegiate 41-23 at Colombo Rd, Masterton, on Saturday.
Playing before a good-sized crowd, Wairarapa College came out firing on all cylinders right from the first whistle. They were simply too strong and accurate for their younger opponents in all departments, chalking up a deserved 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and extending that lead to 19-12 at halftime.
However, it was in the third quarter that Wairarapa College finally broke the determined Collegiate resistance and made their dominance tell by adding a further 15 points to their tally while St Matthew's could only muster three.
The scoring was more even in the final quarter but by that time Wairarapa College sensed they had the game sewn up and were able to see out time.
Wairarapa College coach Jacqui Southey was rapt.
"I'm very excited," she said beaming a broad smile.
"This is where our season of hard work is paying off. The girls were magnificent. They stayed composed and focused throughout and supported each other well."
Southey emphasised it had been a whole team performance with her charges making good decisions throughout the game and staying tight defensively. When pressed, she singled out the defensive work of Courtney Hamilton for special mention.
"She made vital intercepts and dealt with the high ball into the circle magnificently," Southey said.
The other end of the court also gained a mention, with shooters Grace Southey and Judy Brown commended for their composure under pressure.
For St Matthew's this game proved to be one hurdle too many. Coach Trudy Hullena was, however, quick to praise her team's performance as well as the opposition.
"I'm really proud of my girls. They gave of their best right to the end. We are a young group on the rise," she said. "We have demonstrated our potential for next season."
Hullena gave credit to Wairarapa College. "Their defensive circle was excellent," she said.
The final word went to Wairarapa College coach Southey: "Facing Harcourts in the final is going to be a big step up for us. We'll need to bring our very best game to the court. But we're going to savour this one first."
Results of the weekend's interclub netball matches in Wairarapa:
Premier one: Makoura College 60, Carterton Legends 50; Wairarapa College 41, St Matthew's Collegiate 24.
Premier one reserve: Gladstone All Blacks 42, Carterton Lynx 38; Hiona 50, Fagan Hots Shots 43; Kuranui A 55, Trevs 1 44.
Premier two: Martinborough 25, St Matthew's B 17; Wairarapa College B1 24, Carterton Red 16; Wairarapa College Intermediate A 31, Solway A 16.
Premier three: Nga Iwi 21, Greytown Red 11; Eketahuna 37, Carterton White 12; Gladstone 21, Chanel A 14; Trevs 2 18, Featherston Black Sox 18.
Premier four: Makoura B 20, St Matthew's Junior A 20; Wairarapa College Junior A 35, Wairarapa College Senior Gold 21; Wairarapa College B2 36, St Matthew's Intermediate A 19; Makoura Junior A 35, Chanel Junior A 11.
Senior A: St Matthew's Red 28, Kuranui B 10; St Matthew's C 21, Wairarapa College Intermediate C 16; Masterton Flames 31, Carterton Blue 22; East Coast 24, Mangan Graphics 20.
Senior reserve: Makoura Intermediate A 32, Kuranui Junior A 25; Carterton Maroon 25, St Matthew's Blue 11; Chanel Red 17, Solway Junior A 5; Lakeview Flames 32, Wairarapa College Junior Gold 7; Makoura Intermediate A 29, Greytown Black 22; Carterton Maroon 30, Solway Junior A 15.
Senior B: Wairarapa College Red 16, Wairarapa College Junior Blue 6; Chanel Junior B 10, Chanel Blue 9.