Pelorus show prowess

The Pelorus premier netball team tonight laid down a marker for next week’s first round decider at Marlborough Lines Stadium.

The reigning champs met the Marlborough Men’s side in a non-competition encounter, accounted for them 52-42 in a free-flowing, fast-paced encounter.

Pelorus’s rivals in next week’s showdown, the similarly-unbeaten Harlequins Totalspan line-up, also won tonight, scoring a decisive 56-27 victory over Marlborough Girls’ College in an at-times scrappy early game.

In the early clash, Tokomaru picked up their first win of the campaign, downing Harlequins Grove Tavern 55-29.

Both Pelorus and Harlequins have beaten the Men’s side this season, Quins prevailing by 11 goals in the first week of the season. However, the form guide offers little indication of the sides’ respective prospects, especially with personnel coming and going this season so far.

Tonight, the Dark Blues were without a couple of key players, lynchpin shooter Paige Lovell and lively middie Stormy Tupara, although they lost little with the quality of their replacements, Courtney Taufa slitting smoothly into the GS role while Renei Te Pairi and Kelsie Fitzpatrick shared WA duties with aplomb.

The defensive trio of Izzy Tupouto’a, who appears to be thriving in her new team, Ella Smith and Oriana Houra, are combining nicely, but will have to be on their toes to restrict the potent Quins’ attack.

Harlequins Totalspan were also below full strength tonight, with Delyth James-Sitters absent, but showed enough to suggest they will be a match for Pelorus throughout the court.

With height at both ends of the court, in the shape of shooter Jorja Bacchus, who again registered a 90 percent shooting average and athletic defender Jack Frew, who popped up in both GK and GD bibs, they will be a handful for any opponent.

Bridget Gane, who continues to set the standard in midcourt play, Zara Jopson, Aleisha Smith and Celine Barnes are beginning to form handy combinations, while the ever-energetic Mickayla Avant is beginning to find form after time away.

MGC showed patches of slick form during their match, a slow first quarter and sluggish final stanza blowing the scoreline out. They have been below full strength recently, but remain competitive. The return of Sophia Nicholas and Tilly Tupouto’a to their ranks will provide an immediate boost, while middie Elizabeth Bowron made her season debut tonight.

Defender Sophia Saggers and GA Jaye Wiapo were two MGC players to impress.

Tokomaru will be relived to notch up their first win of the season, especially with Eden Hika being ruled out during the warm-up with an ankle injury.

Kayla Wilson shouldered the majority of the shooting responsibility, coping admirably, while WA Rebecca Mark plus fellow middies Ellen Barr and Shannon McManaway provided impetus and energy throughout the court.

Ten players took the court for the Quins, as they struggle to form combinations. It has been a tough start to the premier competition for them but they continue to battle hard and will improve with match play and experience of a faster-paced game. Bianca Oliver, Aston Underwood and Monja Oberholzer worked tirelessly.

Scores:

Harlequins Totalspan 56 (Celine Barnes 7/12, Lauren Murray 5/15, Jorja Bacchus 44/49) Marlborough Girls’ College Liquid Action 27 (Jaye Wiapo 15/21, Anna Hurren 12/23). Quarter scores (winning team first): 16-6, 12-9, 13-8, 15-4.

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 52 (Courtney Taufa 33/44, Laura Evans 19/36) Marlborough Men 42 (Luke Richardson 26/37, Shiloh Walsh 16/22). Quarter scores (winning team first): 15-14, 14-11, 11-7, 12-10.

Tokomaru 55 (Jade Shallcrass 10/13, Kayla Wilson 38/47, Ramona Waikato 7/11) Harlequins Grove Tavern 29 (Tegan Bayley 4/8, Wiri Bristowe 12/14, Monja Oberholzer 13/18). Quarter scores (winning team first): 15-9, 12-9, 15-4, 13-7.

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