In Round 6 of the Sky Broadband Rapid League ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens finally kick started their season with a road win in Dunedin - after five straight losses the Queens prevailed 34-26 against the Southern Hoiho. At the other end of the table the BNZ Northern Kāhu won a sixth straight contest to retain top spot on the competition ladder. Mike Lacey takes you through those games and everything else you need to know about Round 6 Rapid League action.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai Vs Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai
Meanwhile back at their home base at the QEYC, after hosting a couple of games in Taupō, The Northern Group Tauranga Whai eked out a 23-16 victory against Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai on Thursday to retain second spot on the Rapid ladder.
A triple from Tara Manumaleuga helped Pouākai edge a low scoring opening half 10-6 before Whai took control in the third frame.
Consecutive baskets from Eva Langton, headed for a game high 12 points and her third double figure outing of the season, and a three from Pahlyss Hokianga enabled Whai to outscore the Cantabrians 11-3 in the period and carry a 17-13 lead into the final stanza.
A neat inside move from Vitolia Tuilave, back playing in her hometown, trimmed the deficit to two only for Langton to splash her third from beyond the arc ahead of Kirisome sealing the win at the charity stripe.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai 23 – Eva Langton 12pts & 4 rebs, Jade Kirisome 4pts & 3 assists
Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai 16 – Sharne Robati 5pts & 4rebs, Vitolia Tuilave 4pts, Tara Manumaleuga 4pts, Lauren Tewhata 4rebs, 2 assists & 1 steal
BNZ Northern Kāhu Vs Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai
The Rapid League’s leading scorer Steph Bairstow logged 11 points and 8 rebounds as BNZ Northern Kāhu made it six wins on the bounce with a 37-26 win against Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai at Eventfinda Stadium on Saturday night.
After a sluggish opening quarter both teams picked up the pace in the second. Back in familiar surroundings Sharne Robati moved into double figures for Pouākai while Amy Pateman – a triple secondary schools national championship winner with Westlake Girls High – nailed a corner three as Kāhu took a 21-13 lead into half-time.
Mary Goulding, against her former team, was a perfect 4 from 4 from the foul line in the third as the hosts extended its advantage to 28-19 at the final break.
Tara Manumaleuga dropped 5 points in the fourth period but Kāhu eased through the final spell to close out the win and inflict a second loss in the round on the Cantabrians.
BNZ Northern Kāhu 37 – Steph Bairstow 11pts & 8rebs, Lilly Rotunno 7pts & 3 steals, Mary Goulding 6pts
Haswell Timber Mainland Pouākai 29 – Sharne Robati 14pts & 5rebs, Tara Manumaleuga 7pts
Southern Hoiho Vs ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
Double figure contributions from Jacinta Beckley and Tiarna Clarke propelled ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens to its first win of the season – a 34-26 success against Southern Hoiho at the Edgar Centre, Dunedin on Sunday afternoon.
Both players produced season high numbers with Clarke scoring 13 points and Beckley posting 12 points and 8 rebounds while Aliyah Dunn (9 points) and Samara Gallaher (8 points) led the way for Hoiho.
Clarke scored the first 5 points as Queens opened up an 11-5 advantage yet Hoiho responded with 10 straight points to snatch the lead.
However Beckley had the last say of the opening half – a front on three from the former Tall Fern gave her team a narrow 17-16 half-time lead.
Dunn’s inside game produced 6 third quarter points for the Hoiho but Beckley’s second triple of the contest kept Queens in the ascendancy (26-23) with a quarter to play.
Having given up winning positions in the final quarter more than once in previous games this season, Queens made no mistake on this occasion – Beckley and Clarke’s combined 25 points crucial.
Southern Hoiho 26 – Aliyah Dunn 9pts, Samara Gallaher 8pts, Abby Harris 5pts
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens 34 – Clarke 13pts, Beckley 12pts & 8rebs, Awatea Leach 3pts & 3 assists
Rapid Express
Eva Langton, with 12 points against Pouākai, became the second player after Steph Bairstow to pass 50 points this season.
Bairstow meanwhile leads the League in total points and rebounds.
Rapid Fire
With a cumulative 66 points scored in the Kāhu v Pouākai clash the fans at Eventfinda Stadium were treated to the highest scoring game of the season.
Rapid Leading Scorers
71 Steph Bairstow (Kāhu)
55 Eva Langton (Whai)
44 Ash Strawbridge (Pouākai)
43 Jacinta Beckley (Queens)
39 Tyler Mitchell (Hoiho)
39 Bailey Flavell (Kāhu)
38 Sharne Robati (Pouākai)
37 Sophie Rogers (Whai)
37 Kaylee Smiler (Whai)
37 Chelsea D’Angelo (Hoiho)
36 Azure Anderson (Kāhu)
36 Tara Manumaleuga (Pouākai)
Rapid Leading Rebounders
30 Steph Bairstow (Kāhu)
27 Eva Langton (Whai)
25 Kaylee Smiler (Whai)
24 Millie Simpson (Hoiho)
24 Vitolia Tuilave (Pouākai)
22 Azure Anderson (Kāhu)
22 Emma Rogers (Whai)
21 McKenna Dale (Whai)
21 Jacinta Beckley (Queens)
20 Aliyah Dunn (Hoiho)
Rapid MVP Votes (through R6)
Eva Langton (Whai) 48
Steph Bairstow (Kahu) 46
Chelsea D'Angelo (Hoiho) 26
Kaylee Smiler (Whai) 24
Share Robati (Pouakai) 24
Ashlee Strawbridge (Pouakai) 22
McKenna Dale (Whai) 22
Krystal Leger-Walker (Kahu) 22
Jacinta Beckley (Queens) 22
Bailey Flavell (Kahu) 20Azure Ande
rson (Kahu) 20
Abby Cubillo (Pouakai) 20
Sky Broadband Rapid League Standings after Round 5
6-1 Northern Kāhu
6-2 Tauranga Whai
3-5 Mainland Pouākai
2-5 Southern Hoiho
1-5 Tokomanawa Queens
