Premier netball finalists decided

There will be a familiar look to the final of the Marlborough premier netball competition.

For the fourth consecutive year Pelorus and Harlequins will meet in the championship decider.

Tonight, both sides scored decisive semifinal wins under the roof at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000.

Pelorus, who have set the pace since opening day, romped past a subdued Marlborough Girls’ College crew 84-31, while Harlequins Totalspan accounted for Tokomaru equally comfortably, winning 60-32.

The Dark Blues will head into the final, to be played at the stadium on Saturday, August 30, as red-hot favourites, having beaten Quins on all previous three occasions they have met this season. However, nothing can be taken for granted come play-off time and Quins will be a very determined and motivated underdog in the final showpiece match of the club season.

Tonight, they fielded a new-look attack, key shooter Jorja Bacchus still sidelined with an ankle injury. Wiri Bristowe, player/coach of the Harlequins Grove Tavern side, stepped into the breach and carried the Quins’ attack superbly, shooting at 81 percent and providing an easy target for the energetic Harlequins feeders.

However, it was the unrelenting defensive intensity which undid Toko. Led by circle defenders Jack Frew and Delyth James-Sitters, plus wing defence Kendall Hughes, they suffocated their rival’s attacking impetus, forcing rushed passes and risky feeds.

Evergreen Bridget Gane pulled all the right strings in midcourt, alongside the ever-improving Zara Jopson.

Toko have had a topsy-turvy season, showing glimpses of form one week then slipping back in the following outing. They have battled throughout with injuries and unavailability, meaning a settled combination was hard to maintain.

Tonight, player/coach Teish O’Connell was again a standout doing her best to inspire her side from the GK and WA positions. Ellen Barr and Kayla Wilson also stood out, along with young shooter Dakota Tepuia.

If they can keep this side together, their time will come.

Meanwhile, prior to the final Quins must work out a way to somehow derail the Pelorus machine and deny a ‘three-peat’ of titles to the team which had never tasted premier success before 2023.

Tonight, the Dark Blues were in a high gear throughout, never taking the foot off the throttle against the students, who had no answer to their slick ball movement and efficient, no-frills approach at both ends of the court.

Paige Lovell continues to dominate the attacking circle, alongside Courtney Taufa, while Jordy Peipi, who slotted in at GD, plus keepers Oriana Houra and Ella Smith, ensured the MGC attacking players had to work doubly hard for success.

Over the course of the match Pelorus put up 104 shots, MGC just 54.

Next on the students’ agenda is a trip to the South Island secondary schools champs in Dunedin from August 25-28. They have shown enough during the course of the premier season to suggest they will be competitive down south, especially when they match up against their peers.

Semifinal scores:

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 84 (Courtney Taufa 16/19, Paige Lovell 66/83, Laura Evans 2/2) Marlborough Girls’ College Liquid Action 31 (Amelia Hood 16/29, Sophia Nicholas 15/25). Quarter scores (winning team first): 25-5, 22-6. 24-11, 13-9.

Harlequins Totalspan 60 (Lauren Murray 8/17, Wiri Bristowe 52/64) Tokomaru 32 (Dakota Tepuia 21/28, Hana Wilson 11/16). Quarter scores (winning team first): 13-9, 14-6, 20-7, 13-10.