The first games of Christchurch Netball Centre's Premier 1 competition took place on Tuesday night at Bishopdale YMCA.

This season eight teams line up in Premier 1 over two rounds of competition. Promotion/relegation will take place at the end of round one.

All teams have either recruited well over the offseason or retained their core playing group making for a what should be a series of close games each week.

Lincoln University opened their premiership title defence with a dominant 64 to 31 win over Kereru B. Lincoln having retained their core playing group and with the addition of some exciting new players picked up where they left off from last season. Lincoln outscored Kereru at almost 2 goals to one and maintained this momentum into the second and third quarters. Taking a healthy lead into the final quarter, Lincoln were able to get a number of players onto court. Emily Hargreaves, one of Lincoln's new players and a Lincoln Scholar supported through the partnership between CNC and Lincoln University, played a key role in goal for Lincoln and is an exciting prospect for the future.

UC Netball had a standout year in the 2021 Premier 1 competition and continued that form into the first game of the season with a win over St Nicholas. While only two goals separated the sides at quarter time, UC built on that lead stretching it to 6 by half time and 9 at three quarter time. While the final quarter belonged to St Nicholas, they could only get to within 6, UC taking the game 50-44.

Kereru's A side would play in the later game against Kia Toa. In a low-scoring game it was Kia Toa who came away with the points with a close fought 41 to 36 win. Kia Toa were in front throughout the match. Coach Corrina Ruki was full of praise for her new midcourt combination of young players Katarina Cox-Winiata and Winnie Palamo. Shooter Chelsea Corbett was also a standout, shooting the bulk of Kia Toa's goals with 27 from 36 attempts.

The game of the round was between Saints and Technical, the court peppered with former Tactix and Silver Ferns. After a close first quarter, Technical broke Saints centre pass twice to open up a four goal lead, and went on to maintain that lead into the second half. By three quarter time, scores were level and went goal for goal in the final quarter. Neither team was able to make the break until the final moments when after levelling the score to 49-49, Saints secured a turnover to score and take the game by the narrowest of margins 50-49.

In Premier 2 competition, now played on a Saturday indoors at St Margaret's, the game of the round was played out between St Margarets and UC Netball B, with St Margaret's taking the game by the narrowest of margins, 49-48. While one goal separated the teams at the first two breaks, St Margaret's had established a 5 goal lead by three quarter time. But UC fought back in the final term, outscoring St Margaret's 12-8, though not quite enough to take over the lead. 

Opening round wins were also recorded by Technical B, Christchurch Girls High School A and Lincoln University B.

Premier 1 statistics:

Lincoln University A 64 (E Hargreaves 39/54, J Riordan 17/20, T Placid 8/16) def Kereru B 31 (K Ioane 22/26, S Reeves 5/10, H Tallentire 4/8). Qtrs: 13-7, 26-14, 47-24, 64-31.

UC Netball A 50 (R Tulisi 15/27, T Aiono 21/24, J Lewis 14/16) def St Nicholas A 44 (G Nicholls 31/47, M Prew 13/17). Qtrs: 13-11, 26-20, 40-31, 50-44.

Saints A 50 (M Hill 39/44, E Halpenny 7/11, G Jones 4/11) def Technical A 49 (J Prosser 43/55, F Sutherland 5/11, C Quinn 1/1). Qtrs: 13-14, 25-29, 40-40, 50-49.

Kia Toa A 41 (C Corbett 27/36, E Mamea 11/16, F LaiKong 3/6) def Kereru A 36 (L Clark 26/40, S Adams 10/13). Qtrs: 10-9, 19-17, 29-27, 41-36.

Premier 2 statistics:

St Margaret's A 49 (I Brown 24/29, T Hassan 25/29) def UC B 48 (K Fleming 29/34, K Lane 10/16, S Cusak 9/9). Qtrs: 14-13, 25-26, 41-36, 49-48.

Lincoln University B 61 def St Andrews A 40 (A Guard 32, M Morrow 8). Qtrs: 14-9, 33-19, 47-26, 61-40.*

Technical B 50 (C Campbell 14, K Ralph 36) def Kereru C 43 (O Anstis 5/8, S Morton 14/20, B Nuku 24/26). Qtrs: 11-10, 24-17, 37-33, 50-43.

CGHS A 41 (E Croft 8/13, 33/36) def Halswell A 36 (J Cottam 19/21, C Ashton 15/18, C Fastier 2/3). Qtrs 11-8, 22-15, 32-26, 41-36.

* Statistics incomplete.

Image courtesy BR Photos 2021.

Article added: Wednesday 04 May 2022