Rebels end Telstars winning streak in city netball

By JACK AMI
AN experienced City Pharmacy Rebels beat NAS Telstars 36-32 to end their unbeaten run in their Port Moresby Netball Association round 4 fixture at the Rita Flynn indoor courts on Saturday.
It was the match of the round and both teams were at full strength.
Rebels with the return of shooters in former PNG Pepes captain Lua Rikis and Samoan international Sopo Alsop combined effectively to cause havoc for Telstars defenders Raka Nope and Julie Anne Diro.
Rebels lead the first quarter 10-9 and were infront 19-16 at halftime but had to stave off a Telstars fight back in the third frame to edge it 28-26 before pushing out to a four-point break in the final frame.
The mid court clashes were telling with Rebels Winnie Mavara mixing with opposite Athalia Kila in a battle of tactics.
Rebels lower error count in the end helped them keep their noses in font of their much vaunted opposition.
Telstars started off with young shooters Eva Aua and Pepe Boio Peter but had to reshuffle mid game with veteran Gamini Koroka to coming to under the hoop to keep the pressure on Rebels back two.
Koroka did her best to set up Aua but things didn’t work out well as their offence broke down thanks to Rebels efficient defence.
Rebels defenders Susan Wellington and Serena Ovia had outstanding games keeping the normally potent Telstars at bay.
Rebels coach Oti Sarufa was satisfied with the win saying they stuck to their game plan to control the momentum and use their experience to maintain a tempo over the younger Telstars.
“We had fewer errors and we capitalised on theirs especially in the final quarter,” Sarufa said.
“It was good to have shooters Lua and Sopo back in the shooting circles which always got us in front.
Telstars were not disappointed with the loss with assistant coach Lydia Veali saying the performance had brought them down.
“This is good, now we know what to do with the young girls and refocus on the next game,” she said.