Super night of netball despite no crowd
Label tonight as one of the best in Hawke's Bay Super 8 Club netball history and nobody will argue.
Certainly nobody in the crowd at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena. There wasn't a crowd thanks to the Covid19 Level Two restrictions.
At least they had the luxury of being able to watch the Hawke's Bay App livestreaming of all four games. That level of professionalism provided by Hawke's Bay Netball off the court was matched by the high quality of play on court.
Former Hastings Girls' High School player and current Northern Mystics squad member Asher Grapes and Mystics squad training partner Emily Burgess were both influential figures in Tremains All In Elusive's 50-44 victory over BM Accounting HHSOG Huia in the feature match.
This result keeps All In Elusive's hopes of reaching the final alive and ended Huia's hopes. Grapes played most of the match at centre before being subbed off with 9m16s remaining in the third quarter. When goal attack Rhandell Sharrock went down with an ankle injury four minutes later Grapes replaced her.
Burgess was dynamic in the goal defence role. All In Elusive led 14-11 after the first quarter, 23-21 at halftime and 28-34 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Huia were dealt a major blow when experienced goal keep Tee Aiolupotea was forced from the court with what appeared to be a fractured wrist at halftime. All In Elusive goal shoot Pania Rowe sunk 41 of her 44 attempts for a 93 per cent success rate.
Huia goal shoot Bianca van Dyk, who had a massive workrate in and out of the attacking circle, slotted 26 of her 32 attempts for an 81 per cent success rate.
The other 7.50pm game saw Thirsty Whale Otane Force maintain their unbeaten run with a 53-32 victory over Vet Services Central Sports. All of the Central players deserve praise for their gutsy first quarter which saw them establish a 13-12 lead.
However Otane stamped their authority on the match in the second quarter and led 23-18 at halftime and 42-24 after the third quarter.
Experienced Otane midcourter Treyana Faulkner showed why she was named in the Hawke's Bay squad earlier in the week with clever reads and composed options. Otane goal shoot for the first three quarters, Millie Ironside sunk 23 of her 27 attempts for an 85 per cent success rate.
While her team sunk 82 per cent of their attempts Central could only manage 63 per cent.
The feature early match between winless Hastings Girls' High School and House of Travel Havelock North Kauri ended in a thrilling 57-all draw. The score was 49-all with eight minutes remaining.
Kauri led 57-53 late in the game but HGHS did well to fight back and secure the draw. HGHS midcourter Kahlia Awa was outstanding throughout the clash.
The other early tussle saw defending champions Napier Girls' High School keep their hopes of reaching the final alive with a 49-33 win over Optimise Physio Outkast Sports. NGHS led 12-7 after the first quarter, 21-16 at halftime and 33-24 at the start of the fourth quarter. NGHS shooter Caitlin Smith slotted 31 of her 38 attempts for an 82 per cent success rate.
Outkast shooter Madison King also finished with 82 per cent after sinking 18 of her 22 attempts.
