Mainland Pouākai Women — Mid-North Whai Women: 78:82, Tauihi Women

Mid-North Whai Women defeated Mainland Pouakai 82 to 78 in the Tauihi competition on Thursday. The away side took all three points from what proved a tightly contested affair at the home venue. Both teams entered the fixture with identical records of seven wins and five losses from twelve games.

By then the visitors had already moved clear at second place while the hosts sat third. The result keeps the gap between them razor-thin in the standings. Neither side can afford to let the other drift away given how evenly matched they remain.

Mainland had looked sharp in their last outing, dispatching Tokomanau Queens 114 to 77. Mid-North's previous game told a different story, a 59 to 67 defeat to Southern Hohepo Women. The contrast in recent fortunes made this meeting all the more intriguing.

And here's the thing about games like this — one possession at each end decides everything. Mid-North kept their heads when it mattered most. The visitors did not travel to make up the numbers and they showed it when the game tightened.

Both sides have now played twelve matches with no draws in the mix. The standings remain suspended between them, each result carrying equal weight. Mid-North will look to build momentum while Mainland will need the points badly going forward.