Indoor Open Grade Premier 2025: 12th June Week 7

By Judy Macdonald

Sam Falkner at GA for HGHS Langman

Thank you to our sponsors Lodge Real Estate

Indoor Open Grade Premier Results Week 7

• Align Health Rangers Premier Reserves 69 vs HGHS Old Girls Premier 44
• HGHS Langman 38 vs FTNC Premier 48
• FTNC Premier Reserves 32 vs Align Health Rangers Premier 86
• Allied HOB Collins Premier 34 vs University of Waikato Premier 67
• Turangawaewae Premier 34 vs Northern United Sports Club Mamba 30
• St Paul’s Collegiate Premier 33 vs Waikato Diocesan for Girls Premier 25
• St Peter’s Premier 52 vs Melville Vetora Premier 34
• University of Waikato Premier Reserves 62 vs Marist Verdettes Premier 18

Premier A

The closest game in Premier A was between FTNC Premier and HGHS Langman. The first quarter was a draw but by half time FTNC Premier led by 23 goals to 18. HGHS Langman then won the next quarter to be two goals behind only for FTNC Premier to have an excellent final quarter to win the game 48 goals to 38. For FTNC Premier it was a slow start, and HGHS capitalised early, putting pressure on the team from the outset. Credit to our defenders, Kyla Onehi-Karena at goal keep and goal defence, Keisha Noble at goal defence and wing defence and Anna Biladi at goal keep in the second half, who worked hard and pulled in a lot of crucial rebounds. It was great to build some momentum and pull away in the final quarter. Overall, really pleased to come away with the win against a strong secondary school side. For HGHS a number of changes were made throughout the game with different impact. There was height and strength in the defenders, who all did some great work in the circle to get turnover ball which was not always able to be finished off. 

Premier Indoor Umpire Mckenzie Northcott

Align Health Rangers Premier Reserve were too strong for HGHS Old Girls Premier and they lead by 37 goals to 21 at half time and won the game 69 goals to 44. HGHS Old Girls Premier as the bottom of Premier A will play University of Waikato Premier Reserves as the top of Premier B on Monday night to determine if they stay in Premier A.

University of Waikato Premier were too good this week for Allied Collins HOB Premier and they lead from start to finish. The half time score was 34 goals to 17 and the fulltime score was 67 goals to 34.

Alison Priestley at C for Align Health Rangers Premier

Align Health Rangers Premier were dominant in their game against FTNC Premier Reserves despite a solid effort by them. At half time, the score was 46 goals to 15 and the final score was 86 goals to 32.

Premier B

Turangawaewae Premier and Northern United Sports Club Mamba had an epic game with almost nothing in it. The first quarter was a draw and at half time Turangawaewae led 17 goals to 15.  At three quarter time the game was again drawn. Turangawaewae then finished strongly to win 34 goals to 30. For Turangawaewae each week they are coming together better as a team and show commitment and drive to go for every ball defensively throughout the court. A number of combinations were tried throughout the game. It was great to see the team finish with intensity. For Mamba there were moments where things didn’t quite go to plan but that’s part of the game. In the end, it wasn’t huge errors; just little errors that add up. The game showed that the team still has things to learn including tidying up the game, backing each other up, bringing the ball down the court and doing all the basics right. Losing always stings, but there’s plenty to take away from a game like that.

NUSC Mamba GA Wilson Rarere vs Turangawaewae Premier

St Paul’s Collegiate Premier and Waikato Diocesan for Girls Premier had a large spectator base, and the game did see-saw despite St Paul’s leading the whole game. St Paul’s started strong to be ahead by nine goals at end of first quarter but a strong second quarter by Waikato Diocesan saw the half time score being 17 goals to 12.  St Paul’s again pulled ahead in the third quarter to be ahead by 11 goals only for Waikato Diocesan to come back in the final quarter to reduce the deficient.  The final score was 33 goals to 25. For St Paul’s the win was built on a dominant start and moments of strong team execution. The first quarter saw the team come out firing, with excellent ball movement through court and quality delivery to shooters Madi Judd at goal attack and Olivia Waddell at goal shoot, who finished confidently with accurate shooting. Following the strong start, the accuracy and intensity dipped slightly in the second quarter. However, the team responded well in the third, showing greater control with sharper movement and passing. This allowed the team to make the most of the impressive turnover ball created by defenders Jasmine Davis at goal defence and Caitlin Foote in a variety of defensive positions. It was a well-earned win with great patches of team play and some key areas identified to strengthen as we move forward. For Waikato Diocesan the team's focus was on connections and doing their job. This was lacking in the first quarter but after some honest conversations at half time the team went back out on court with fight to win the second quarter. Despite this effort the team let it go in third quarter but stepped it up again in the final quarter.  The team has been hindered by injury and illness, so Lucy Turnbull has joined the defence end. Lucy at goal keep worked well with Amy Bryant at goal defence in the circle defence creating pressure and the added height in the circle gained rebounds. One of the team’s best performances so far with connections growing.

Madi Judd at GA for St Paul's Collegiate Premier shoots while being defended by Lucy Turnbull at GK for Waikato Diocesan for Girls Premier

St Peter’s Premier and Melville Vetora Premier had a competitive game, but each quarter St Peter’s were able to slowly increase their lead.  At half time the score was 24 goals to 16 and the fulltime score was 35 goals to 53.

University of Waikato Premier Reserves vs Marist Verdettes Premier

University of Waikato Premier Reserves secured their top spot at the end of the round with an empathic win over Marist Verdettes Premier.  At half time the score was 34 goals to 10 and the final score was 62 goals to 18.

Games this week will see the start of the second round of the competition. The promotion relegation game on Monday, 16 June 2025 will determine the final rankings for the next round.