Netball's big guns set to collide

Pelorus and Harlequins Totalspan are already set on a collision course after just three weeks of the Marlborough premier netball competition.

Last season’s finalists remain unbeaten through the early stages of round one, racking up some hefty scorelines against the lower-ranked sides.

Pelorus have scored consistently, dropping in 72 goals tonight against Harlequins Grove Tavern, to go with previous tallies of 67 and 68.

Although Quins were made to battle hard in a torrid late-night showdown with Tokomaru, they ultimately prevailed by 21 goals, underlining both their quality and depth. Last week they scored 80 against their stablemates.

Next week Pelorus take on the Marlborough Men’s team, who beat Marlborough Girls’ College 67-37 in tonight’s early match, while Totalspan meet MGC.

The following week the top teams meet with, if games go to form, first round honours firmly on the line.

This evening’s tightest encounter was between Totalspan and Tokomaru, with plenty of commitment, plus no shortage of skills and spills on show.

Totalspan prevailed 56-35 after dominating possession for most of the match, putting up 73 shots to their opponent’s 47. Shooting percentages were similar, although Jorja Bacchus’s effort, 47 goals from 56 shots at 83 percent, was again outstanding.

She is proving a reliable and highly-consistent performer under the Quins’ attacking hoop, alongside Lauren Murray and Celine Barnes.

However, shooters rely on quality feeds and in middies Bridget Gane, Zara Jopson and Aleisha Smith Quins have that area covered.

Jack Frew again played GK and proved a constant threat to the Toko shooters.

Living off considerably less possession than their rivals, Tokomaru skipper and GA Kayla Wilson made the most of what came her way while Teish O’Connell underlined her range of skills in three different bibs.

Rebecca Mark, Ellen Barr and Shannon McManaway also impressed in midcourt for the Picton-based crew who will be ruing another poor final quarter which saw the score blow out after a reasonably tight encounter.

The Harlequins Grove Tavern side were more competitive this week, a few of their combinations beginning to gel, but no match over 60 minutes for the Pelorus crew who were able to rotate their roster, getting 10 players on court, some in a variety of positions.

In the non-competition game, MGC put up a lively effort against the Men’s side, who actually had four women in their ranks this week, shooter Anna Hurren finding her range to make the most of her side’s regular turnovers. Defender Jah’Bree MacDonald continues to impress with her athleticism and anticipation. After a slow start MGC gained in confidence and looked threatening when willing to let the ball flow on attack.

Scores:

Marlborough Men 67 (Luke Richardson 35/43, Shiloh Walsh 26/48, Jacob Collins 6/7) Marlborough Girls’ College Liquid Action 37 (Jaye Wiapo 11/18, Anna Hurren 26/35). Quarter scores (winning team first): 19-7, 18-11, 17-10, 13-9.

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 72 (Paige Lovell 43/51, Courtney Taufa 19/21, Laura Evans 10/17) Harlequins Grove Tavern 22 (Tegan Bayley 16/27, Wiri Bristowe 6/11). Quarter scores (winning team first): 16-4, 18-5, 16-5, 22-8.

Harlequins Totalspan 56 (Celine Barnes 3/5, Lauren Murray 6/12, Jorja Bacchus 47/56) Tokomaru 35 (Jade Shallcrass 14/21, Kayla Wilson 21/26).  Quarter scores (winning team first): 13-9, 12-11, 13-9, 18-6.

Points: Pelorus 9, Harlequins Totalspan 6, MGC 3, Tokomaru 0, Harlequins Grove Tavern 0.