The Titikaveka premier grade netball team continues to prove that they are a class above the rest when for the second time this season they outclassed, outmuscled and outplayed the Avatiu dragonflies.

Titikaveka hit the ground running on Saturday after a huge 55-34 win against Takuvaine on Friday night.

If Avatiu thought that Takuvaine might have softened up Titikaveka the night before, they were sorely mistaken as the Pearls once again looked sharp and fresh on court.

So much so that they shut Avatiu down in the first quarter, shooting 15 goals to Avatiu’s 6.

Avatiu were suffocated on attack by Titikaveka as goal feeders struggled to get the ball to shooters Mati Toru and Curly George.

In fact the pair spent more time outside the goal circle trying to help the team deliver the ball to the goal.

And despite both Toru and George being very talented shooters capable of potting goals from anywhere in the shooting circle a lack of confidence was certainly hindering the pair’s shooting game.

Avatiu had a better defending game but even this was not enough against Titikaveka who exhibited lighting fast ball handling skills and classy set plays to get the ball to their able shooters Esther Matapo and Selina Napa.

Overall, Titikaveka just looked like they were enjoying their game more than Avatiu who to their credit managed to keep cool in what was a tightly officiated match.

Standout for Avatiu was their centre court player Vaito George, who despite her team struggling through the quarters, was on the ball.

And so was Odile Pauka in the short time she was allowed on the court in the final quarter of the game. But even this injection of fresh legs into the match couldn’t help Avatiu pull back the massive lead established by Titikaveka who eventually won the match 62-39.

While Titikaveka are a solid unit, the standout player was Danielle Trego who seems to have stepped up her game after not being selected once again into the national side but there’s still time for this rising star.

Titikaveka have dominated the Rarotonga netball scene for the past year and if Avatiu don’t polish up on the basics, Titikaveka will remain at the top.

Avatiu is sitting in second place with 4 points after Titikaveka (6 points) on the premier grade points table after round one.

Takuvaine are in third with 2 points while Ngatangiia are on 0 points.

But Ngatangiia registered a huge win against Takuvaine on Saturday afternoon.

One could say that the Queen’s Baton magic may have rubbed up on the Takitumu girls or that Takuvaine were still recovering from their loss to Titikaveka the night before.

But Ngatangiia will tell you that they wanted that win and they won the match fair and square.

The match was a gritty one with one point separating the two through the final quarter.

But it was Ngatangiia that made their goals count to edge out Takuvaine 49-47.

- Matariki Wilson

Full results: Titikaveka vs Avatiu (Titikaveka scores first) premier grade 62-38, reserve grade 42-57, open 1 grade 38-17, open 2 grade 27-21, under 19 grade 26-23, under 16 grade 19-7, under 14 grade 15-20, under 12 grade 10-all, under 10 grade 4-15.

Ngatangiia vs Takuvaine (Ngatangiia scores first) premier grade 49-47, reserve grade 46-53, open 1 grade 16-51, open 2 grade 17-24, under 19 grade 21-41, under 16 grade 18-27, under 14 grade 11-23, under 12 grade 12-8, under 10 grade 2-12.