Schools from the Netball South region excelled at the massive South Island secondary schools tournament in Timaru.
Columba College was the pick of the bunch, finishing third in A grade after a wonderful week at an event being held for the first time since 2019.
Fellow Dunedin school St Hilda’s Collegiate also played well, reaching the semifinals then being beaten 36-21 by Columba in the third-fourth playoff.
Both schools’ fine efforts were rewarded with selections in the talented players squad at the end of the tournament.
Columba defenders Emilie Nicholson and Holly McRae were named in the A grade selections alongside St Hilda’s goal attack Ella Southby and midcourter Gemma Rowcroft.
But wait, there was more.
Abby Harris (Otago Girls’), Alex Hopcroft and Hannah Symon (both Southland Girls’) were also named in the A grade team.
Netball South talent development lead Jo Morrison said it had been a heartening week for the region.
"The South in general just had a really successful tournament across the board."
Morrison said one of the games of the tournament had been Columba’s dramatic 25-24 pool play win over Southland Girls’.
"It was a thriller. That was a massive result for Columba to advance them through to the semifinals.
"Columba did a great job of shutting them down."
As well as the two players selected in the talented players squad, centre Riley Piebenga had an outstanding week for Columba, Morrison said.
The two other leading Dunedin schools also excelled.
"St Hilda’s played some beautiful netball all week, and deserved their place in the other semifinal.
"And Otago Girls’ making top eight was also a really good performance."
Both Columba and St Hilda’s qualified for the New Zealand championships in Porirua next month.
A nice story was also provided by Taieri College, which won the Georgie Salter Plate for winning the bottom half of A grade, beating Dunstan High School in the 17th-18th final.
Meanwhile, two southern schools earned promotion to A grade for next year’s South Island tournament.
Cromwell College capped a super week with victory over Verdon in the B grade final.
"Cromwell were phenomenal. They have got some lovely talent," Morrison said.
Three Cromwell players — Milasa Finau, Maddi Pask and Grace Tiko — made the B grade tournament selection alongside Gabby Winkel (Gore High School).
Final placings for southern teams were.—
A grade: Columba College 3, St Hilda’s 4, Southland Girls’ 6, Otago Girls’ 8, Wakatipu 12, St Kevin’s 14, Mt Aspiring 15, Taieri 17, Dunstan 18, Central Southland 20, Waitaki Girls’ 23, St Peter’s 27, James Hargest 28, South Otago 32.
B grade: Cromwell College 1, Verdon 2, Gore 5, Fiordland 10, Queen’s 13, Blue Mountain 14, Roxburgh 15, Aparima 17, Menzies 22, Kavanagh 23, Bayfield 26, Tokomairiro 30.
C grade: Lawrence Area School 6, Twizel 9, Kaikorai Valley 12, Northern Southland 14, Aurora 15, East Otago 16.
- Yesterday’s Otago Daily Times incorrectly reported St Hilda’s beat Columba in the third-fourth playoff. An incorrect result was posted on the tournament website.
