Students have final say at Stadium

The Marlborough premier netball competition continues to produce close encounters.

The opening match tonight featured Tokomaru and Marlborough Girls’ College, both teams searching for their first win of the season. In a thrilling finale, MGC came out on top 40-38.

The first half could not have been closer, the teams tied at the end of the first quarter and then again at halftime.

Play was often muddled, with repeated turnovers a feature as both sides struggled to establish control of proceedings.

In the third quarter Toko began to draw away, moving out to a five-goal lead, with defensive players Eden Hika and Dakota Tepuia to the fore, the Wilson sisters gelling in midcourt and shooter Naomi Fowler dropping in 11 goals from the same number of attempts.

However, the students showed their mettle in the final 15 minutes, levelling the scores at 38-38 with two minutes to play, then having the final say when Sophia Nicholas landed a pivotal two-pointer. Toko had a couple of chances to reply but were unable to find the hoop from range.

MGC took time to produce their best in this one, struggling for continuity in the early stages, but experienced players such as Nicholas, Anna Hurren, Jah’bree MacDonald, Violet Speakman and Jaye Wiapo stood up when it counted.

The second clash involved Pelorus and Harlequins, the former unbeaten while Quins were also searching for their first win.

A feature of this match was the involvement of Pelorus shooter Paige Lovell, playing her last match before heading abroad. She has been hugely influential in the Dark Blues’ recent run of success and showed tonight how much she will be missed.

The final result saw Pelorus head off Quins 58-47, the score not indicative of the close nature of this one.

One of the main differences was Lovell’s long shooting. When the buzzer sounded prior to the final four minutes of each quarter she came into her own, landing six two-pointers, which rapidly inflated the score and frustrated her rivals. Not to be outdone, her shooting partner, Courtney Taufa at goal attack, dropped in two two-pointers of her own, much to the team’s delight.

Another feature was the speed and courtcraft of Rebecca Mark in midcourt, plus the continued resilience of defensive kingpins Oriana Houra, Liv Matthews and Izzy Tupouto’a.

Bridget Gane, Wendy Trolove, Natalie Spence and Delyth James-Sitters were prominent for Quins.

The final game of the evening was a light-hearted affair, the Mixed side romping past Central 61-24, both side’s entering into the spirit of the occasion with some free-flowing netball.

Scores:

MGC Liquid Action 40 (Jaye Wiapo 20 points/29 attempts, Sophia Nicholas 14/18, Amelia Hood 6/17) Tokomaru Crafar Crouch 38 (Naomi Fowler 25/37, Dana Wilson 11/17, Kayla Wilson 2/3). Quarter scores – winning team first: 11-11, 8-8, 9-14, 12-5.

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 58 (Paige Lovell 43/56, Courtney Taufa 12/15, Mele Moli 3/6) Harlequins Totalspan 47 (Jorja Bacchus 33/41, Lauren Murray 8/16, Wiri Bristowe 6/17).  Quarter scores – winning team first: 16-14, 12-12, 21-11, 9-10.

Mixed Invitation 61 (Shiloh Walsh 8/19, Luke Richardson 33/38, Jacob Collins 18/29, Sam Pearson 2/5) Central Gill Construction 24 (Jess Rutherford 12/16, Liv Pinkerton 6/17, Celine Barnes 3/12, Courtney Folster 3/13). Quarter scores – winning team first: 14-8, 20-1, 18-7, 9-8.