Netball: New-look Hinemoa nab first win

The senior netball season started at the weekend in Rotorua. Pictured are Murupara Stingers player Kirstin Merriman (right) and Rotorua Girls' High School Senior A player Tayla Earle in action on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Parker

A new-look Hinemoa team are off to a winning start this season, after claiming the top prize in Rotorua netball last year.

Hinemoa, Whaka Redz, Rotorua Girls' High School and Central League Gold all picked up first-round wins at the Westbrook Netball Courts on Saturday, in the Banner Round premier grade.

The premier grade sees teams compete in the Banner Round during the first half of the season, followed by the Championship Round during the second half of the season.

Hinemoa, who won the Championship Round last year, defeated Rotoiti On Tap 41-22 on Saturday to start their season.

"There is lots to work on but we're happy with the win," Hinemoa coach James Gillette said. "We lost a lot of our players at the end of last year and we are pretty much a new team, with a lot of new girls this season."

Gillette said only three players were still in the team from last year.

He said while they would like to finish in the top two or top four at the end of the season, they were still finding their feet as a new side.

"We are a new team and we have not set a full team goal yet, but we want to improve by the end of the season."

Gillette said that captain Hariata Ngatai had a big game on Saturday, helping lead Hinemoa to victory.

In the other premier matches, one of the competition favourites Whaka Redz defeated Marist Shakers 61-44.

The Rotorua Girls' High School Senior A team also comfortably accounted for the Murupara Stingers 52-28, while Central League Gold defeated Western Heights High School Senior A 36-35 in a close fixture.

Teams compete across seven weeks to decide the winner of the Banner Round, before teams are regraded and compete for the Championship Round.

The Ngongotaha Elusives won the Banner Round last season but decided not to enter this year, choosing to focus on the Habourside competition in Tauranga played on Thursday nights.

Rotorua Netball secretary Mary Thompson said they had an increase in senior and junior netball teams playing this year in Rotorua.

"We have about three extra senior teams this year and our junior teams have definitely increased by quite a bit."

The junior competitions begin on May 2 at the Westbrook Netball Courts on Malfroy Rd.

-Premier results from Saturday: Hinemoa 41 Rotoiti On Tap 22, Rotorua Girls' High School Snr A 52 Murupara Stingers 28, Whaka Redz 61 Marist Shakers 44, Central League Gold 36 Western Heights High School Snr A 35.