It’s just another week in netball.

That’s how Tysons East captain Tiaan Taylor is preparing for the top-of-the-table clash in the Bayleys premier netball league on Thursday night.

The six-time defending champions play Inglewood, who has a seven-point lead and a game in-hand heading into the last round of grading (at the time of writing)

Both teams are unbeaten and for Tysons its only retained three players from last season.

Taylor said Inglewood will be the toughest competition for the team so far this season, who will meet at the TET Stadium in Stratford at 6:45pm.

“And we know they have a strong mid-court which we look to combat with some strong one-on-one defence,” she said.

Tysons’ shooting circle has been in form this year with Connie Clement and Amber Ormond shooting at a very high percentage.   

Taylor credited the shooters and defender Dominic Williams-Riding.

“He has started the season in fantastic form and continues to grow. He takes on everything that is being said and has built a great connection with Brook [Neilson] in our defensive circle.”  

She said the team needs to keep applying what it does at trainings into the game.  

Inglewood coach Sam Burkhart said the team trained well during the week and is ready for what Tysons will bring.

Burkhart knows the shooters hardly miss and said Tysons bring a very skilful level of physicality.

To win the match, Inglewood needs to focus for the game’s entirety.

“So far in the competition it has been easy to get away with having a slow patch, but against a team like Tysons we will have to be ready to play the full 60 minutes.”

She said there is reliance on players coming off the bench.

“As a team of 12 we have heaps of different combos that bring something different to the game and that is something that really helps us.

In other premier one matches, Naumai host Stratford/Eltham at the TSB Hub in Hawera at 6:45pm.

Stratford/Eltham won its second game last week, while Naumai has lost three matches from four outings.

New Plymouth Girls’ High School will want to finish its premier one season on a high when it plays New Plymouth Old Boys in the later game at TET Stadium.

Girls’ High haven’t picked up a win and is looking down the barrel of relegation into premier two.

Old Boys won one match in grading.

Naumai looks to be promoted from premier three after it leads the league. It will host The Locals on Thursday night. Bell Block play Inglewood before playing in a catch-up game in Waitara on Friday night and Hawera High School hosts Stratford/Eltham.

In premier two, Inglewood, Sacred Heart Girls’ College and Raukura are fighting for promotion into premier one.

Only two points separate the three teams.

On Friday, Sacred Heart will go head-to-head with Raukura at Whai Tapuwae Nō Rongo in Waitara at 7pm, Inglewood plays Tukapa and Inglewood High School plays Tysons West both in Stratford.

Full draws and results can be found on the Netball Taranaki website.

Article added: Wednesday 12 May 2021