Ulalei Puataunofo victorious

Ulalei Puataunofo dominated all facets of play to earn a well deserved victory over High School Old Girls 56-42 in Hutt Valley Netball’s premier 3 competition on 29 July.

Puataunofo started well with Doris Berkland-Tagaloa at goal attack setting up and feeding her goal shooter Bree Itula to take a 15-12 lead.

The defensive unit of Aja Te Aho at goal keep, Tamara Howie at goal defence and Janique Te Wiki-Mu at wing defence was solid and at times impassable.

Their transition on attack was seamless, bringing the ball down the court strongly for the shooters to convert. Puataunofo led 27-23 at half time.

Waiapu Tangianau was hungry for the ball and carried the mid court with excellent feeding from the circle edge. By the end of the third quarter Puataunofo had an unassailable 42-32 lead.

Coach Memory Hopoi-Timo was ecstatic with the result.

“We won every quarter and sealed the deal with an emphatic win,” she says.

Hopoi-Timo was flying solo without her manager Faimafili Tamaali’i who is currently in South Africa at the Netball World Cup.

The team’s usual scorers Sina Tamaali’i, Peter Sua and Lenora Smith were playing, managing and coaching respectively, in other netball games which clashed with Puataunofo’s game time.

Three other Ulalei teams also notched up victories on 29 July.

Ulalei Fuesina beat Avalon Rugby Netball Club 24-23, Ulalei Moso’oi beat NNCU 7 36-30 and Ulalei Pu lulu beat High School Old Girls 3 41-31.

Howeever Ulalei Aute lost its match against WMMNA 54-61 and Ulalei Laga’ali ost to Upper Hutt Tigers 26-50.