NZ Secondary Schools Netball Championships

NZ Secondary Schools Netball Championships
Finals Day Wrap
Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) have successfully defended their New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Championships title with a comprehensive 41-23 win over Wellington’s St Mary’s College in the Grand Final this afternoon.

MAGS have been the form team all week, unbeaten through seven matches over the four days of competition. In the final, MAGS defenders Holly Fowler and Jamie-Lee Price were at their best, picking up any errant passes and foiling the St Mary’s attackers time and time again to force the turnover which was duly converted at the opposite end.

The pace of the game was dictated by a fit and determined MAGS side, the midcourt attackers slicing through the St Mary’s defence to find their tall targets under the goal.

MAGS goal shoot Maia Wilson finished the tournament with the highest shooting stats over the entire tournament, successful with more than 92 percent of attempts at goal, with fellow shooter Meretini Fuimaono also in the top six overall.

St Mary’s have also enjoyed a stunning run into the final, and deserved their final spot. Coach Pelese Semu has worked hard with her team to claim the silver medal, up from seventh spot in 2012 with some impressive wins over the course of the tournament.

The play-off for the bronze medal was also a Wellington versus Auckland match with Wellington East Girls’ College topping off a fantastic Championship to win 35-30 over Baradene College of the Sacred Heart. Only 12 months ago, the Wellington team finished 13th overall while Baradene College fell one spot from winning the bronze medal in 2012. Wellington East Girls’ shooters Emma O’Neill 21/26 and Tenika Leota 14/19 were consistent in finishing off any turnover ball.

John Paul College finished off the Championships in fifth place defeating Pukekohe 34-29 in a thrilling match. John Paul always had the edge and held on for the five goal win.

In the all Auckland play-off for seventh and eighth, bragging rights went to Auckland Girls’ Grammar School over Westlake Girls’ High School 29-19.

In earlier results, Waimea College finished off their tournament with a win, defeating Christchurch Girls’ High School 42-32, while Palmerston North Girls’ High School were too good for Southland Girls’ High School 29-24.

In the battle for ninth, Tu Toa won that match against South Otago 38-29 and on Court Two, St Margaret’s College defeated New Plymouth Girls’ High School 31-22 to secure 11th place in the Championships after finishing fourth last year.

National Selectors were watching closely all week, spotting talented netballers with potential to go further in the game.

Those chosen as part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament Selection are:
Emma May Murray – Tu Toa
Chiara Semple – Mount Albert Grammar School
Maia Wilson - Mount Albert Grammar School
Monalisa Groom – St Mary’s College
Emma O’Neill – Wellington East Girls’ College
Meretini Fuimaono - Mount Albert Grammar School
Whitney Souness – St Mary’s College
Sam Sinclair – John Paul College
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan – Wellington East Girls’ College
Mereana Makea – Wellington East Girls’ College
Jamie-Lee Price - Mount Albert Grammar School
Holly Fowler - Mount Albert Grammar School
Kelly Jury – New Plymouth Girls’ High School
Kayla Williams – Tu Toa
Sulu Feleti Faanana – Auckland Girls’ Grammar School

NZSS 2013 Final Placings:
1 Mount Albert Grammar School
2 St Mary’s College
3 Wellington East Girls’ College
4 Baradene College of the Sacred Heart
5 John Paul College
6 Pukekohe High School
7 Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
8 Westlake Girls’ High School
9 Tu Toa
10 South Otago High School
11 St Margaret’s College
12 New Plymuth Girls’High School
13 Palmerston North Girls’ High School
14 Southland Girls’ High School
15 Waimea College
16 Christchurch Girls’ High School

Please click here for full results. All matches featured LIVE scoring, available through the Netball New Zealand website. The final match, as well as the match for 3rd/4th placing has been be videoed and will be uploaded to the Netball New Zealand YouTube channel later this evening.

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