Manukura Black find form at the right time
Don’t count Manukura Black out of the title race by any means.
Former champions Manukura beat last year’s Massey 58-50 in the final game of round one at the Arena on Tuesday, in a rare night where all the games were competitive.
Massey, who haven’t lost a game since losing the 2015 final to Manukura, have been cruising along untroubled this year until they hit a slick Manukura team, who looked like they had saved their best netball for a grand final rematch.
Massey shot out to a 6-0 lead on Tuesday, but as the quarter went on Manukura scrapped back to be behind by one at quartertime.
They traded goals for the rest of the half, with both teams getting the ball through what was a hectic midcourt.
Central national league player Rhiarna Ferris made a big difference coming off the bench at goal keep for Manukura and they eked out a 28-27 lead at halftime.
Massey made too many turnovers and Manukura capitalised on those to be up by five after three quarters and they kept going in the fourth, leading by 10 goals at one point.
Manukura’s Antonia Hei Hei was a pest on defence and she threw some great long balls into the shooting circle.
Braxton Te Riini was busy in a half at centre, Emily Autagavaia, who shot 44 from 50, was a great target in the shooting circle, and a flying Layce Walker had a great game in defence.
Massey goal keep Teresa Hunt got into everything and keen wing attack Steph Collins kept trying to the end. put in a strong second half to brush aside
Feilding A1 Palmerston North Girls’ High School
50-39.
After making a good start, Feilding let Girls’ High back into the game in the first quarter.
They traded goals throughout the first half, but Feilding were an improved outfit after the break, getting great impact from bench midcourters Tessa Marsh and Shayna Hata, and pulled away by six goals.
Girls’ High were pressured into mistakes and couldn’t get things at their shooting end sorted.
Feilding’s defenders Jess Brett and Kahu Brown, who was one of their standout players, grabbed more rebounds and made sure Girls’ High couldn’t get much ball on attack.
Feilding shooters Maila Muliaga and Anania Kerehomacook were on form in the second half and kept ticking up the goals.
Charlotte Williams was Girls’ High’s best shooter, while defender Jessica Pease worked hard.
put in what could be there best performance of the season, but they still couldn’t get their first win, as they lost 52-45 to
Feilding A2 College Old Girls.
The win puts College up to third place after the first round.
It is the most goals Feilding have scored this season and only the second time they’ve scored more than 30 goals.
Feilding led 24-19 at halftime, but couldn’t compete with COG, who brought their top shooter Manta Maxwell off the bench at halftime. College won the second half 33-21 to close out the game.
drop to fourth spot after losing 63-48 to
Manukura Red were down by two goals after the first quarter, but slowly edged their way in front by halftime and were up 31-28.
It took until the final quarter where Manukura rammed home their advantage, winning the final spell 19-11.
Rahui Manukura Red.
OPINION: With the North Island school championships at Cambridge coming up at the end of the school term, much effort goes into preparation for the teams time trial events.
This event is where four riders (five for the seniors) from the same school set off in one-minute intervals to be the fastest team over 16km.
Four riders are faster than one, because while the front rider is taking the wind, the three behind can sit in his/her draft and save some energy.
It means the person at the front