Fire alarm abbreviates premier netball action
Anna Hurren in action for Marlborough Girls' College tonight. Photos Peter Jones.
Only two premier netball matches were completed tonight after a fire alarm emptied the stadium.
Around 8.40pm, with the final two matches nearing their conclusion, players and officials were asked to assemble outside Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 as the fire alarm sounded.
Two fire appliances attended, checked the building over and after the stadium was cleared for use again, approximately half an hour later, it was decided to call it a night, leaving just one game completed.
That was the early clash between Marlborough Girls’ College and Harlequins, another of this season’s clashes that went down to the wire, Quins prevailing 60-52.
Quins made the early running, their circle defenders Wendy Trolove and Delyth James-Sitters ensuring the students had a tough job finding their shooters and producing turnover ball, which the reliable Jorja Bacchus converted at the other end.
Trailing 33-22 at halftime MGC needed a spark and came out with more purpose after the break, inspired by the versatile Sophia Nicholas and Jaye Wiapo. A 17-12 quarter reduced the margin to six goals and by midway through the final quarter they had cut the gap to four.
However, Quins showed they are made of stern stuff and pulled away in the final minutes as MGC resorted to firing off two-point attempts in a late bid to catch up.
Paige O’Brien had a good night in midcourt for Quins, while Anna Hurren did likewise for MGC.
The other two matches were also relatively tight before being abruptly curtailed, Central leading Tokomaru 42-36 with five minutes remaining in the final quarter, and the Invitation side in front, 34-25, against Pelorus in the third quarter.
Scores:
Harlequins Totalspan 60 (Jorja Bacchus 55 points/60 attempts, Lauren Murray 5/13) MGC Liquid Action 52 (Jaye Wiapo 13/22, Sophia Nicholas 21/42, Amelia Hood 18/34). Quarter scores – winning team first: 18-13, 15-9, 12-17, 15-13.
Central Gill Construction 42 Tokomaru Crafar Crouch 36. Quarter scores – winning team first: 10-9, 12-10, 14-9, 6-8 – NOTE fourth quarter uncompleted.
Mixed Invitation 34 Pelorus Edridge Contracting 25. Quarter scores – winning team first: 11-10, 13-8, 11-7 - NOTE fourth quarter not played