Semifinal spots sewn up

After three rounds of premier netball play, the battle lines have been drawn for next week’s semifinals.

Top qualifiers Pelorus will take on Marlborough Girls’ College, who remain in fourth place despite registering a nail-biting win over Tokomaru at Stadium 2000 tonight.

The other semifinal will feature Harlequins Totalspan, who were well beaten by Pelorus tonight, and Tokomaru, who ended up as second qualifier for the play-offs, courtesy of a bonus point gleaned from their one-goal loss to MGC.

The defending champs, Pelorus, will sweep into the semis as overwhelming favourites to go all the way and clinch their second consecutive title.

After battling initially to shake off a Harlequins side missing their leading shooter, Jorja Bacchus, with an ankle injury, they pulled away steadily and surely, completing a 54-33 victory.

Once more, the Dark Blues demonstrated an all-court game, Oriana Houra leading the defensive unit with her silky skills and aerial ability, Laura Evans providing stability and astute decision-making in the midcourt while Paige Lovell just keeps sinking goals, tonight registering a staggering 96 percent.

Harlequins were unable to keep pace with their quick-scoring rival, although defenders Jack Frew, who pulled off some spectacular interceptions, and Delyth James-Sitters tried their best to stem the flow. Celine Barnes was lively in the GA bib while Zara Jopson demonstrated her growing composure at this level.

The best game of the evening was up first.

In a topsy-turvy tussle MGC managed to score a morale-boosting 45-44 win over Tokomaru.

The students started stronger, moving out to a 22-16 lead at the halftime break, before Toko found their attacking rhythm in the third quarter to close the gap to a single goal after 45 minutes.

The final quarter went goal for goal, setting up a thrilling final few minutes which stirred the vocal stadium crowd into action.

With turnovers aplenty as the match went down to the wire, ultimately it was the MGC side who held their nerve, scoring the go-ahead goal and, just, denying Toko as the clock wound down.

Sophia Nicholas, Jah’Bree MacDonald, Elizabeth Bowron and Violet Speakman were to the fore for MGC, while Teish O’Connell, Dakota Tepuia and Hayley Turoa had a good night for the Picton crew.

The evening’s final match was just that for Harlequins Grove Tavern and the Marlborough Men’s Invitation side.

Quins, who missed out on the semis, and the Men, who gratefully joined the competition to ensure there was no bye and have not played for competition points, both wound up their season with a high-spirited, fun match.

The Men won 63-33, both sides taking to opportunity to play people in a variety of positions, some totally foreign to them, providing entertainment and enjoyment for all concerned.

The semifinals are on Tuesday next week.

Scores:

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 54 (Courtney Taufa 11/16, Paige Lovell 43/45) Harlequins Totalspan 33 (Celine Barnes 15/21, Lauren Murray 18/33). Quarter scores (winning team first): 14-9, 15-8, 17-8, 8-8.

Marlborough Men 63 (Luke Richardson 15/23, Shiloh Walsh 12/23, Jacob Collins 13/18, Johnny Joseph 5/10, Corbin Moore 8/12, Nick Rayner 10/16) Harlequins Grove Tavern 33 (Wiri Bristowe 3/7, Monja Oberholzer 12/23, Tegan Bayly 10/21, Aston Underwood 8/15). Quarter scores (winning team first): 9-10, 18-6, 13-11, 23-6.

Marlborough Girls’ College Liquid Action 45 (Anna Hurren 7/11, Sophia Nicholas 24/30, Jaye Wiapo 14/20) Tokomaru 44 (Kayla Wilson 2/4, Dakota Tepuia 33/47, Dana Wilson 9/15). Quarter scores (winning team first): 11-7, 11-9, 9-16, 14-12.

Points: Points: Pelorus 12, Tokomaru 7, Harlequins Totalspan 6, MGC 6, Harlequins Grove Tavern 0.