Pelorus continue dominance

Pelorus consolidated their position at the top of the premier netball standings at Stadium 2000 tonight.

The competition pace-setters took on Marlborough Girls’ College Senior A in a game brought forward from the school holidays, when several players from both sides would have been unavailable.

In a scrappy encounter, riddled with turnovers and inaccurate passing, Pelorus prevailed 45-33, the low score indicative of both sides’ struggles to maintain cohesion throughout.

Pelorus started with a hiss and a roar, outstanding goal keep Jalen King dragging in a series of interceptions and rebounds to help propel her side to a 15-6 advantage at the first break.

They pushed their lead to 23-10 in the second quarter before the students, to their credit, regrouped. An 8-2 run narrowed the gap to seven goals at the halftime break. It was followed by an 11-11 third quarter, leaving MGC very much in the game after 45 minutes.

However, they were unable to make up any more ground in the final stanza, Pelorus pulling further ahead with wing defence Jordan Peipi’s outstanding anticipation and courtcraft setting the tone.

Paige Lovell dominated the winning team’s offence, putting up 53 shots of which she landed 38. Fiaalii Solomona did the same for MGC, hitting the target 28 times from her 38 attempts.

Eleri James-Sitters worked hard in midcourt for the students, who were left to rue a sluggish start against a side who boast both depth and class in all departments this year.

Scores:

Pelorus Edridge Contracting 45 (Paige Lovell 38/53, Karli Murphy 7/9) Marlborough Girls’ College NZ King Salmon 33 (Fiaalii Solomona 28/38, Zoe Scaife 1/3, Mele Moli 4/9). Quarter scores (winning team first): 15-6, 10-12, 11-11, 9-4.

Standings: Pelorus 12, MGC 5, Harlequins 5, Tokomaru Crafar Crouch 0, Awatere 0.