HGHS senior A netballers end 14-year drought
Hastings Girls' High School Senior A netball team coach Jamie Richardson was quick to praise her Napier Girls High School counterpart Charissa Barham tonight.
"Charissa is one of the biggest influences on my coaching career. She is the reason I coach. She taught and coached me at Waiopehu College in Levin back in 1998 and '99," Richardson explained after HGHS pipped NGHS 37-36 in a fourth-round Hawke's Bay Super 8 premier club competition fixture at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena.
This was the first time HGHS Senior A (pictured above) had beaten their NGHS counterparts since 2007.
"The girls were buzzing. I'm so proud of them as they all played for each other," Richardson explained.
"We were down by nine in the second quarter and then scored six in a row. It was a game of momentum swings," Richardson said.
Her team led 9-7 after the first quarter. Napier led 18-12 at halftime and 28-26 after the third quarter.
New Zealand Secondary Schools squad midcourter Kahlia Awa was outstanding for Hastings. Former shooter Galilee Hiko, who switched to the goal defence role a fortnight ago, had a massive work rate.
Kapone Richardson-Box provided quality impact when she took the court at goal keep in the third quarter. Second-half goal shoot for Hastings, Breezyn Ioane, sunk 20 of her 24 attempts for an 83 per cent success rate.
"This was a good benchmark game for both teams," Barham said.
She was proud of the defensive work from her squad. Katie Beal impressed in the wing defence and goal defence positions. Fellow Year 13 student Te Aria Henwood, who has transferred from Gisborne to improve her netball, shone in both defensive circle positions while Year 11 midcourter Aspen Petera was also a workaholic on defence.
Defending champions Otane Sports maintained their unbeaten run with a 70-29 victory over Vet Services Central Sports. Otane led 16-10 after the first quarter, 38-14 at halftime and 57-22 after the third quarter.
Otane's goal shoot for the second half, Dallace Heremaia, sunk 24 of her 27 attempts for an 89 per cent success rate. Fellow shooter Mia Reeves, who played the first three quarters, had an 81 per cent success rate with 29 successes from 36 attempts.
The Irene van Dyk-coached BM Accounting HHSOG Huia side beat RDCL Outkast Sports 47-32. Huia led 12-7 after the first quarter but trailed 19-18 at halftime.
Huia led 32-23 after the third quarter. Huia's goal shoot for the second half, K Pearse had an 88 per cent success rate after sinking 23 of her 26 attempts.
The other match saw Tremains All In Elusive beat Three Wise Birds HHSOG Kereru 54-26. All In led 11-5 after the first quarter, 25-11 at halftime and 39-21 after the third quarter.
All In goal shoot Kathleen Nahora sunk 30 of her 36 attempts for an 83 per cent success rate.
