Friday, 6 September 2019

CGHS break 51-year drought

    By Claire Booker
    1. Canterbury
    2. Sport

    CGHS won the South Island Secondary Schools netball tournament final for the first time in 51 years.Photo" Supplied
    CGHS won the South Island Secondary Schools netball tournament final for the first time in 51 years.Photo" Supplied
    Christchurch Girls’ High have won the South Island secondary schools netball competition for the first time in 51 years.

    CGHS beat Dunedin’s St Hilda’s Collegiate 29-27 in a nail-biting final which went into extra time at Saxton Stadium in Nelson on Thursday.

    Both teams now head to the nationals next month.

    CGHS stayed either level or in front throughout the A grade final.

    It was 9-9 after the first quarter and 12-12 at half-time until CGHS nudged ahead by two goals after the third quarter.

    At full-time, the teams were level again 26-26. In overtime, it see-sawed again as both sides fought hard for the two-goal advantage needed to take the title. South Island Secondary Schools Netball Association chairwoman Maggie Lloyd described the game as “fabulous.”

    Year 13 students Shana Ali and Charlotte Knight finished their last South Island tournament with a bang. Photo: Supplied
    Year 13 students Shana Ali and Charlotte Knight finished their last South Island tournament with a bang. Photo: Supplied
    “There was outstanding defence all throughout the court. The crowd swung from wanting one team to win to another team to win,” she said.

    Lloyd said CGHS goal shoot, Olivia McIntyre was “amazing”. CGHS co-captains Charlotte Knight and Shana Ali were named the talented players of the tournament.

    Lloyd said the reason for the low scoring final was because St Hilda’s played a patient game and looked to control the ball.

    The standard had improved compared to previous years, she said.

    CGHS went into the tournament ranked third, two places ahead of St Hilda’s.

    CGHS beat Ashburton College 34-21 in the semi-final, and St Hilda’s knocked reigning champions Villa Maria College out of the running in the other semi.

    Villa beat Ashburton 39-30 for third, while St Margaret’s beat St Andrew’s College for fifth spot, 36-34.

    CGHS, St Hilda’s, Villa Maria, Ashburton College and St Margaret’s qualified for the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament in Nelson in October.