Ra¯hui upset Massey to book finals spot
Ra¯hui upset defending champions Massey A1 in the Manawatu¯ club semifinals to book a new-look final against Feilding A1.
Rahui finished the regular season in fourth place, but have been one of the form sides of the past six weeks and took that form into a tight 42-41 win over top-qualifiers Massey in the semifinal at Palmerston North’s Arena on Tuesday.
Rahui will play Feilding A1, who finished the round-robin second, in the final on Tuesday at 7.30pm, after Feilding beat Manukura Black 60-58 in their semifinal.
It is the first time Ra¯hui have been in the final since 2014 and the first time Feilding have been in the decider since 2010, which they won. Ra¯ hui last won in 2013.
Massey have won the past three titles but on Tuesday they were knocked over by Ra¯ hui, just Massey’s second loss of the season.
Ra¯hui led the whole game, up 22-19 at halftime and 33-28 after three quarters. Massey had the better of the last quarter, which they won 13-9, but Ra¯ hui hung on to win at the end. It was a tense match and Massey scored five goals in a row at the end to level the scores, but Ra¯hui’s Maraea Murray sunk one last shot to give them the win.
Murray landed 26 shots from 31 attempts in three quarters on court, while Massey’s main shooter was Hannah Rowe, who shot 24 from 35.
In the other semifinal, Feilding booked their spot in the final with a tight 60-58 win over Manukura Black. Feilding had a strong first half and opened up a big 38-26 lead by halftime thanks to 20 goals in the second quarter.
But Manukura came back in the second half and dominated the scoring. Manukura took a 58-57 lead late in the game, but Feilding finished with three goals to seal the match.
Young Feilding shooter Montel Aki slotted 47 goals from 54 attempts, while Janaya Preece was Manukura’s busiest shooter, landing 38 from 41.
In the bottom-four semifinals, Palmerston North Girls’ High School beat Feilding A2 47-34 and Manukura Red beat Massey A2 52-46.
Massey A1 now play Manukura Black to decide third and fourth, Manukura Red and Girls’ High play in the playoff for fifth and sixth, and Feilding A1 and Massey A2 will square off in the seventh-and-eighthplace playoff match.
The premier two club final is on Saturday between College Old Girls A1 and Feilding Reserves, and the premier secondary schools final is between Manukura Red and Whanganui High School.
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Club netball finals: 2018: Massey 53 Manukura Black 42, 2017: Massey 58 Manukura Black 39, 2016: Massey 66 Manukura Black 62, 2015: Manukura Black 59 Massey 40, 2014: Manukura Black 49 Ra¯ hui 42, 2013: Rahui 54 Tu Toa Silver 34, 2012: Ra¯ hui 50 Tu Toa 46, 2011: Tu Toa 46 Ra¯ hui 38, 2010: Feilding A1 67 Tu Toa 55, 2009: Feilding A1 60 Tu Toa 48.