Top-four spot for Hawera's Naumai
BY MURRAY HILLS
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Naumai grabbed the final top-four spot in Taranaki premier one netball when it beat Arahi 42-38 in Stratford last night.
The Hawera-based side will now join New Plymouth Old Boys, Tysons and New Plymouth Girls' High School in the playoffs starting next Thursday night.
Top qualifier Old Boys will play Tysons, with the winner taking the direct path to the grand final. Girls' High will square off against Naumai in the other match.
The loser of the one v two match will play the winner of the Girls' High-Naumai match a week later to decide the second finalist.
"I'm thrilled with the way the girls played," said Naumai coach Karen Brooks afterwards.
"We started badly and lost the first quarter 11-7, but we came back taking the second 13-6 to lead 20-17 at halftime."
Brooks said from there on it was all about controlling play.
"We just had to look after the ball and control things. Vicki (Grindlay) was awesome in the midcourt," she said.
"My shooters, Steph (Stephanie Rolfe) and Alaire (Kahupukoro) were outstanding. So, too, was the defence led by Chrissy (Longstaff) and Tamara (Brooks). The girls finished strongly and are looking forward to the playoffs."
In the showdown between the top two sides, unbeaten NPOB came back from eight behind after the first quarter to beat Tysons 60-49 in the early match in New Plymouth.
It was a much stronger effort this time round from Tysons, with a couple of umpiring calls going against the Waitara side.
"I'm pleased we were more competitive," said Tysons coach Ivy Topping afterwards.
"We improved our score by six this time. Last time we lost by 17, this time it was 11. Next week, we'll improve again by another six and get them in the final."
Topping was pleased with her side's start to the game.
"We were allowed to play and we had the ball down the shooting end. Overall, I felt proud of the girls, they kept trying," she said.
In premier two, Inglewood continued on their unbeaten run with a 53-43 win over bottom-placed Stratford at Stratford.
Waitara High School picked up 57-51 win over WC Raukura in New Plymouth, while in the remaining match, NPOB Bounce upset Sacred Heart Girls' College 45-37.
Results: Premier one, NPOB 60 Tysons 49, player of match, Josie Matuku; Naumai AWE 42 Arahi 38, Chrissy Longstaff; NPGHS 44 QT Raukura 40, Kate Baxter; premier two, Inglewood 53 Stratford 43, Lauren Burgess; Waitara HS 57 WC Raukura 51, Conor Harrison; NPOB Bounce 45 Sacred Heart 37, Fiona Croot.
Current points: Premier one, NPOB 30, Tysons 24, NPGHS 14, Naumai AWE 13, Arahi 9, QT Raukura 8; premier two, Inglewood 30, Sacred Heart 20, Waitara HS 15, NPOB Bounce 13, WC Raukura 9, Stratford 8.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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