26 July 2021, 2:40 AM
Upper Clutha A grade netball resumed last week with MANC A cementing their place in the top four playoffs with a 45-32 win over Pioneer A.
This was a ‘must-win’ match for Pioneer A who sit at the bottom of the competition table after contesting the playoffs in 2020.
They started the match slowly, giving up an early lead to a fired up MANC A team.
Pioneer A fought their way back into the match after an MANC A goal shooter retired from the match due to illness, which left MANC A with just one specialist shooter on court.
MANC A led 20-17 at halftime.
Determined to hold their semi-final place, MANC A pulled away in the third quarter to lead by 8 at three quarter time.
They were seldom troubled in the last quarter and their win qualifies MANC A for the top four playoffs.
With two rounds left in the regular season the A grade semi-finalists have been determined and the results over the next two weeks will determine the ranking for the semi finals.
A grade results:
MANC A 45 v Pioneer 32
Hawea A 47 v Molyneux A 23
Cromwell A 62 v Dunstan A 30