Columba College made it two in a row with a comfortable 24-11 win against Waitaki Girls' High School in the final of the Otago secondary schools championship yesterday.
The defending champion stole the initiative through some tight defence, with goal keep Zoe Cadzow and fellow defender Gemma Cowie swooping on anything loose.
Centre Biddy Skerton worked tirelessly and linked the ends well, and 15-year-old shooter Bridget Thayer landed 16 of her 17 attempts.
Columba and New Zealand Under-21 coach Janine Southby said her side weathered a spirited start by Waitaki but had established a 11-6 lead by halftime.
"It was quite tight to start with but we started to pick off some intercepts and had some good flow through court," Southby said.
For Southby, the victory was extra special, with her former Otago coach Georgie Salter coaching Waitaki.
In the play-off for third, Dunstan High School beat St Hilda's Collegiate 21-17.
