Win lets Manukura Red hold on to spot in top flight

Manukura Red have held on to their place in the Manawatu¯ club premier grade by winning the promotionrelegation match after the first round.

Manukura Red finished the first round as the bottom of the six teams in the premier grade, after they lost 52-44 to second-placed Ra¯hui at the Arena, Palmerston North, on Tuesday night.

That meant they had to play Feilding Reserves, who finished the first round on top of the premier reserve competition, despite a 60-58 loss on Tuesday to Massey A2, who are second.

Feilding Reserves and Manukura played a promotion-relegation game at Massey University on Thursday night and Manukura held their nerve to win a tight match 60-59.

Feilding led for most of the game and were up by 11 goals at one point. They led by six with a quarter to go, but Manukura didn’t give up and sneaked ahead in the final seconds.

Both sides will stay in their respective grades for the second round, which starts on Tuesday.

In the other premier games on Tuesday, Massey A1 finished the round on top and unbeaten after an 80-22 thrashing of Manukura Black, who are fifth.

College Old Girls A1 finished the first round third, having beaten fourth-placed Feilding A1 54-33.

In the other premier two reserve games, College Old Girls A2 beat

Ra¯hui 2 in a close match 48-47 and Massey Oldgirls beat Feilding A2 52-47.

Round one standings: Premier: Massey A1 20, Ra¯hui 16, COG A1 13, Feilding A1 8, Manukura Black 4, Manukura Red 1.

Premier reserve: Feilding Reserves 17, Massey A2 16, Massey OG 16, Feilding A2 9, COG A2 5, Ra¯hui 2 1.