Southland Girls’ High School knows a thing or two about the national secondary schools tournament.
This week the Invercargill school will attend its fifth national tournament in six years.
This year’s tournament begins in Timaru tomorrow.
Southland Girls’ qualified after finishing second at the South Island tournament in Dunedin last month.
It was beaten by Christchurch school Villa Maria College in the final.The team, which missed out on qualifying last year, will again be coached by former Australian international Natalie Avellino.
"We had no expectations on this team this year. They’ve just come together nicely as a team," Avellino said.
Captain Holly Munro, Kate Hartley, and Emma Dermody were named in the South Island tournament team and the trio will again be key figures for Southland Girls’.
Sixteen teams will line up at this year’s tournament — six from the upper North Island, five from the lower North Island, and five from the South Island.
The 16 teams are split into four pools of four, with Southland Girls’ joining New Plymouth Girls’, defending champions Howick College, and Westlake Girls’ in one pool.
Each team will play two games a day through to Thursday before finals day on Friday.
Southland Girls’ best finish at the nationals over the past six years has been ninth.
Earlier this season Southland Girls’ played in the Invercargill Netball Centre premier A club competition, being beaten by eventual champions Rata in the semifinals.
- Logan Savory
