Round 1: Game 1
WAIBOP Matarau vs Central Manawa
Saturday 10th May
After a smooth flight into Palmerston North, the Matarau girls arrived eager and energised to open their season against a strong Central Manawa side. With clear game plans in place and the team buzzing with anticipation, they hit the court with purpose and passion.
The first quarter saw a steady start as nerves settled, with Matarau edging ahead 16-13. Building on that momentum, they continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, taking it by one and heading into the halftime break with a 29-25 lead.
A composed halftime reset sparked a lift in intensity, with the team coming out firing in the third quarter. A dominant 13-8 performance extended the lead to nine heading into the final spell. Smart technical substitutions and positional changes kept the energy high, with fresh legs making an impact throughout. The newly introduced two-point super shot rule played into Matarau’s strengths, with our sharpshooters sinking an impressive seven two-point goals.
Finishing strong, Matarau sealed a convincing 59-44 win to kick off the season on a high note. A well deserved victory and an exciting tone set for the campaign ahead – bring on Game 2!
