Newcomers gallant in loss

Newly-promoted Soar Physio Charlies were the most competitive of the bottom four teams in the latest series of matches in Te Awamutu premier grade netball championship.

After being comprehensively outplayed 14-1 in the first quarter, Soar Physio Charlies fought back tenaciously to resrict last year’s champions Fraser Tech to a winning score of 52-26 at ASB Stadium at Te Awamutu Events Centre.

The former premier reserve side went neck and neck with their higher ranked opponents in the second quarter. Tech came out on top, just, 10-9 to lead 24-10 at halftime.

Fraser Tech lifted the tempo on the resumption in play, winning the third 15 minute stanza 15-7 for a 39-17 advantage.

Soar Physio Charlies gave plenty of cheek right to the final whistle, restricting Fraser Tech to 13-9 in the fourth quarter.

All other games showed

Superior finishing touches helped Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic make it two in a row against the Silvermoon Tactix when

Merv Gyde (Gyde Fielder Associates) was the best performed tipster with 4/5 winners in week six of Te Awamutu Courier ‘Our Panel’s Picks’ ANZ Netball competition, markedly improving his overall success rate to 62 per cent.

The bulk of the tipsters managed 3/5 winners, including competition leader Lucy Sim (Edmonds Judd) whose overall per centage plummeted from 88 to 81 per cent.

Bernie Marshall (McDonald’s) remains in second place on 76 per cent, followed by Murray Green (Paper Plus) on 71, Gwen Matchitt (Netball Centre) 67, Melanie Barker (Harcourts) 62, Gyde 62, Mark Kelly (WMC) 57 and Sunita McPhee (VetEnt) 48.