Netball battle joined

Things are getting tight at the top of the premier netball standings, with a trio of teams tied after three weeks of the final round.

Pelorus, Harlequins Totalspan and Tokomaru are all on six competition points as the battle for semifinal seedings looms.

Tonight, under the Stadium 2000 roof, Pelorus and Quins came away with victories, while Tokomaru lost to the Men’s side in a match with no points at stake.

Pelorus took on the young Marlborough Girls’ College crew and came out of the blocks quickly, racing to a 39-10 lead at the halftime break and eventually prevailing 65-29. Although the students lifted their intensity in the second part of the match, even drawing the third quarter against the reigning champs, the horse had well and truly bolted.

Pelorus welcomed defender Oriana Houra back tonight, adding to their considerable resources, and even had the luxury of replacing key shooter Paige Lovell for the final quarter.

Ella Smith and Brittney Lyons were prominent in another slick team effort, particularly during the early stages.

Midcourter Elizabeth Bowron was in good form for MGC, while defender Jah’Bree MacDonald and GA Sophia Nicholas added spark to a side which can produce some flowing netball but is still learning the ropes in this grade.

They have a key match next week, against Harlequins Grove Tavern, which may well determine who qualifies for the semis.

The Harlequins derby match was taken out 47-33 by the Totalspan side. Their clubmates, Harlequins Grove Tavern, battled hard to keep the margin close, the final result an improvement on their previous battles, won 80-9 and 58-32 by Totalspan.

Midcourters Bridget Gane and Zara Jopson made good use of the plethora of possession Totalspan enjoyed, their often-creative feeding allowing shooters Celine Barnes and Jorja Bacchus to put up 67 shots to their stablemates’ 44.

Grove Tavern rung the changes throughout, using all 12 players on their roster, and again showed improvement as they adjust to the faster-paced game. Defenders Kaya Walsh and Samantha Williams ensured any goals conceded were hard-earned.

The evening’s final clash saw the Men’s Invitation side overcome Tokomaru 58-44.

Toko, on the back of two wins in the final round, started strongly, holding their rivals to a five-point deficit at halftime. However, the Invitation side have talent and height aplenty and slowly edged away to a comprehensive victory.

Toko welcomed player/coach Teish O’Connell back on to court and she, along with centre Rebecca Mark and shooter Dakota Tepuia, stood out in a promising team effort.

Nick Rayner, Jacob Collins and Tash Ford impressed for the Invitation crew.

Scores:

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 65 (Paige Lovell 40/43, Courtney Taufa 19/23, Laura Evans 6/10) Marlborough Girls’ College Liquid Action 29 (Jaye Wiapo 13/15, Anna Hurren 6/10, Sophia Nicholas 10/20). Quarter scores (winning team first): 21-6, 18-4, 12-12, 14-7.

Harlequins Totalspan 47 (Celine Barnes 15/28, Jorja Bacchus 32/39) Harlequins Grove Tavern 33 (Tegan Bayley 4/6, Monja Oberholzer 4/8, Wiri Bristowe 23/26, Aston Underwood 2/4). Quarter scores (winning team first): 12-6, 15-10, 12-10, 8-7.

Marlborough Men 58 (Luke Richardson 40/55, Shiloh Walsh 18/30) Tokomaru 44 (Kayla Wilson 11/22, Dakota Tepuia 33/54). Quarter scores (winning team first): 16-15, 12-8, 16-10, 14-11.

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