Massey eye premier hat-trick
Massey are aiming for the rare feat of winning a third premier club netball title in a row.
Massey have won the past two titles and have the chance to win a third when they play Manukura Black in the final at the Arena, Palmerston North, on Tuesday night.
The past four finals have been between Massey and Manukura Black, but Manukura are no longer the old girls’ team. They are now the schoolgirls’ side, having swapped names with Manukura Red.
The two sides have easily been the best two teams this year. Massey are unbeaten this season and Manukura lost three times during the year, twice to Massey and once against Manukura Red.
Massey coach John Atkins is in charge for his fourth final.
‘‘We’ve been build- ing. We’ve actually had a good run, but against Manukura we’ve only managed to get the win by one goal and five goals.
‘‘There’s really not a lot between us based on previous results.’’
It is the second final for Manukura coach Renee Matoe, although she was a player-coach last season. This year she has run the schoolgirls’ team.
‘‘It’s a really good achievement for the girls to make the prem-one final.’’
Massey have five players back from last year’s winning team in Hapai Selby-law, Theresa Hunt, Kahu Sturmey, Steph Collins, Keaghan Seymour and Kamie Veikoso.
Seymour and Veikoso will be their main source of goals, Hunt and Sturmey are busy defenders, and Collins brings energy in midcourt.
Key players for Manukura will be captain and defender Tahlia Runga, and their three threats at the shooting end in Rochelle Fourie, Madison Awahou and Diaz Tepaniastrickland.
Runga, Awahou and Tepaniastrickland were all in the Aotearoa Ma¯ ori secondary schools’ team this year.
Manukura Black are also in the open A1 secondary school final on Saturday against Palmerston North Girls’ High School.
During the season Girls’ High won by one goal and they drew in the other match.
In the minor playoffs on Tuesday night, Feilding A1 finished in third place after they beat
Rahui 59-47 in the third-and-fourth-place playoff.
Finishing in the top three means Feilding avoid grading next year.
Manukura Red finished fifth after they beat Massey A2 62-51.
Feilding A2 avoided the wooden spoon as they beat College Old Girls 62-44 in the playoff for last place.
Massey: Kamie Veikoso, Keaghan Seymour (co-captain), Hannah Rowe, Steph Collins (cocaptain), Danii Va’a, Jess Pease, Kahu Sturmey, Theresa Hunt, Therese White, Hapai Selby-law.
Manukura Black: Rochelle Fourie, Madison Awahou, Diaz Tepania-strickland, Piper Awahaou, Brody Manson, Lyric Paewai, Tahlia Runga (captain), Kiwi Hunter-rogan, Alyssa Mataiti.
Centre pass: 7.30pm.
Manawatu¯ club finals 2017: Massey 58 Manukura Black 39. 2016: Massey 66 Manukura Black 62. 2015: Manukura Black 59 Massey 40. 2014: Manukura Black 49 Rahui 42.