Central premier netballers make grade

The Central premier netball team booked a place in the forthcoming semifinals with a 51-46 victory over Marlborough Girls’ College under the Stadium 2000 roof tonight.

The top two sides are already locked in, Pelorus and Harlequins cementing the top two seedings for the play-offs with one week of round robin play to come. They will play each other next week to see who tops the third-round standings and takes top spot into the semis.

Central will fill one of the remaining two semifinal positions. They play the Mixed side next week, their match not counting for competition points, meaning their final placing will be decided by next week’s clash between fourth-placed Tokomaru and fifth-placed MGC.

There are several possible connotations. If Toko win they will move into third, if MGC win and deny Toko a bonus point the students will pass the Picton side and take the fourth position. If Toko lose, but gain a bonus point, they will end up level with MGC on points.

Tonight’s matches confirmed the credentials of the leading contenders. Pelorus accounted for Tokomaru 59-36 while Harlequins came mighty close to handing the previously-unbeaten Mixed Invitation side their first defeat, losing 56-55.

At three quarter time Quins had established a 45-40 lead and seemed on track to get over the line. However, some pivotal positional changes by Quins saw the Mixed side draw level soon after the break. In the latter stages the scoring went goal-for-goal with the Mixed crew scoring the vital go-ahead goal, then forcing a turnover at the other end as Quins endeavoured to equalise in the final seconds.

The evening’s early game was also a tight affair, MGC and Central drawing two of the quarters and sharing possession overall.

The shooting of Brooke Leaver was a deciding factor, the former Mainland Tactix player, switching between GS and GA, landing 38 of her 46 attempts, many from distance.

Kelsie Fitzpatrick, Brittney Lyons and Celine Barnes maintained the flow of ball into the circle cleverly while Liv Hodson anchored the defence.

Bree Flynn, Sophie Moore and Isla Watene worked hard in midcourt for MGC to create momentum, while Jah’Bree MacDonald put up a strong showing in the defensive circle.

In the third match, Pelorus managed 73 goal attempts against Toko’s 54. Anel Moli, the Dark Blues’ ever-improving shooter, was again a reliable source of points, landing 51 of her 61 attempts to carry the bulk of scoring for the defending champs. Stormy Tupara, Liv Matthews and Bex Mark ensured a steady passage of ball through mid court, with Izzy Tupouto’a strong under the defensive hoop.

The Wilson sisters - Dana and Kayla - Ellen Barr, Kara Beattie and Dakota Tepuia battled hard for a Toko side who fell well behind early and struggled from then on to bridge the gap.

Scores:

Central Gill Construction 51 (Celine Barnes 8/12, Brooke Leaver 38/46, Liv Pinkerton 5/7) MGC Liquid Action 46 (Amelia Hood 16/24, Sophia Nicholas 13/19, Jaye Wiapo 17/27). Quarter scores – winning team first: 12-12, 14-11, 14-14, 11-9.

Mixed Invitation 56 (Shiloh Walsh 10/14, Luke Richardson 32/39, Jacob Collins 14/15) Harlequins Totalspan 55 (Lauren Murray 25/35, Wiri Bristowe 30/36). Quarter scores – winning team first: 13-17, 15-13, 12-15, 16-10.

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 59 (Anel Moli 51/61, Mele Moli 3/5, Courtney Taufa 5/7) Tokomaru Crafar Crouch 36 (Kayla Wilson 14/22, Naomi Fowler 9/13, Dana Wilson 13/19). Quarter scores – winning team first: 15-8, 16-8, 12-12, 16-8.

Points after four weeks of the third round: Harlequins 9, Pelorus 9, Central 5, Tokomaru 3, MGC 1.