Top four make flying start
The top four teams were again to the fore in the latest round of the Netball South Canterbury premier competition.
Harlequins started the second round in positive fashion, with a 13-goal win over Geraldine. The 42-29 scoreline showed Geraldine have improved massively as a side since their round three clash, when they lost by 28 goals.
Geraldine held an early 2-0 lead but nine successive goals asserted Harlequins dominance.
They moved the ball through the court well and fed shooters Pip Oliver and Juliet Waud with great ease.
Harlequins led 14-6 after the opening quarter and increased their lead to double figures by halftime.
Geraldine refused to give up and led the goal tally midway through the second quarter 4-2.
An 11-goal lead to start the third quarter allowed the Raewyn Cormick coached Harlequins the chance to give bench player Sarah Stark some extended court time, at goal attack.
Geraldine lost the third quarter by just two goals, and drew the last one 8-all, in what was one of their best performances this season.
Kayla Frew directed play for Harlequins in the midcourt, with support from Courtney Harper, while Ellen Walsh was strong defensively.
Tiana Curtis was outstanding for Geraldine, leading the side well and making some difficult shots, while Lani Curtis and Bailey Hillegers had sound matches.
Mackenzie dominated their clash against Craighead from the get-go, winning 38-10.
The country side welcomed back Vanessa Greenwood and now have a defensive end many teams will be wary of.
The addition of her and former Roncalli player Kate Braddick give Mackenzie four outstanding defenders, with Aliesha Chitty and Cindy Robertson also on their books.
They were up 11-3 early in the clash and carried the strong momentum into halftime, where they were up 22-5.
The large margin allowed Mackenzie to play Robertson at goal shoot for the final period.
Chitty, Abby McIlroy and Nicole Lang led the way for Mackenzie, while Annabelle Gualter and Taylah Marr made some passes for Craighead in a lacklustre showing.
Pareora tested Pleasant Point to hold a slender 9-8 lead after the first quarter but were blown off the court for the final three periods.
Point, who made a sluggish start to the fixture, lifted the intensity in the remaining three quarters to take the honours 43-23.
Ellen Davey and Lucy Stephens were had fantastic games for Pleasant Point, while Kylee Little and Jess Hewitson shone for Pareora, in a performance they’d have been disappointed about.
Old Boys showed their class to defeat premier newcomers St Pat’s A, in what was a stern challenge.
St Pat’s A showed enough to suggest they could be tricky opponents in the coming weeks.
Alice Sutherland, Erinmarie Phillips and Kate Shaw had quality matches, while Sam Rooney, Jasmine Harper and Keryn Ward produced some touches of class for St Pat’s A.