Dragonflies play Red Divas in pressure match

Due to the regional netball teams arriving this weekend for the Pacific Series netball tournament, the first club premier grade netball match was played last night between the Titikaveka Pearls and Ngatangiia Kokiri.

This is so that national players in the Titikaveka team will be able to head into camp before the Pacific Series starts on June 3.

That means all eyes will be on the premier grade match today between the Avatiu Dragonflies and the Takuvaine Red Divas.

Not that these two sides need any more pressure, as they are both under considerable pressure already to win this game.

The last time these two teams met, Avatiu just managed to win by one goal 43-42.

Takuvaine will head into today’s match fired up after losing to the Kokiri ladies from Ngatangiia last week in what was a nail-biting match and the first win for Ngatangiia.

In all fairness though, it was Takuvaine’s second match in as many days as they had to face Titikaveka the night before meeting Ngatangiia, where they were thrashed by the Pearls.

And no doubt Takuvaine are still stung by that loss to Ngatangiia and they will want to come out today to prove that they are not a team to be messed around with.

Especially with the experience Sebon Nicholas on defence in the Avatiu circle and classy left-hand shooter Rangi Konito in the Takuvaine shooting circle.

Avatiu on the other hand will need to find their ace combination if they are to hold off Takuvaine today.

The Dragonflies are still number two in the premier grade but Takuvaine can easily knock them off the position with a good win today.

Avatiu are clearly a fit and skilled side but for some reason seem to lack confidence on game day.

Avatiu showed fantastic attacking drive and aggressive defence when they faced and thrashed Ngatangiia in the first round and it’s this game that they need to mirror today.

But the premier grade won’t be the only game that will provide the action today, with games kicking off at 12pm with the baby netters in the under 10 grade.

The under 19 grade matches at 2.30pm and reserve grade games at 3.25pm are also much see games.

Get to the Telecom Sports Arena and support netball.

Saturday May 29 – 12pm (Under 10) Ngatangiia vs Titikaveka, umpires, Autiare Luke and Kara Matenga (reserve Tupe Tamatoa), Avatiu vs Takuvaine, umpires, Teokotai Tarai and Tiniura Wichman; 12.30pm (Under 12) Ngatangiia vs Titikaveka, umpires, Jan Mellor and Kara Matenga (reserve Autiare Luke), Avatiu vs Takuvaine, umpires, Teokotai Tarai and Tiniura Wichman (reserve Tupe Tamatoa); 1.10pm (Under 14) Ngatangiia vs Titikaveka, umpires, Mona Tangata and Autiare Luke (reserve) Tiniura Wichman, Avatiu vs Takuvaine, umpires, Teokotai Tarai and Tupe Tamatoa (reserve Jan Mellor); 1.50pm (Under 16) Ngatangiia vs Titikaveka, umpires, Tupe Tamatoa and Jan Mellor (reserve Janette Browne), Avatiu vs Takuvaine, umpires, Mona Tangata and Autiare Luke (reserve Tiniura Wichman); 2.30pm (Under 19) Ngatangiia vs Titikaveka, umpires, Autiare Luke and Tupe Tamatoa (reserve Tiniura Wichman), Avatiu vs Takuvaine , umpires, Oropai Mataroa and Janette Browne; 3.25pm (Reserves) Ngatangiia vs Titikaveka, umpires, Tiniura Wichman and Punanga Kaveao, Avatiu vs Takuvaine, umpires, Ngere Puia and Tupe Tamatoa; 4.45pm (premiers) Avatiu vs Takuvaine, umpires, Autiare Luke and Janette Browne (reserve Tiniura Wichman).