New Zealand win Trans Tasman Secondary Schools Netball
GRAND FINAL
New Zealand Secondary Schools (30) def School Sport Australia (28)
SEMI FINAL
Team Pasifika (34) def Aotearoa Maori (33)
PLAYERS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Defensive Player of the Tournament: Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (NZSS)
Attacking Player of the Tournament: Kayla Cullen (NZSS)
Midcourt Player of the Tournament: Emily Chapple (School Sport Australia)
Overall Player of the Tournament: Kayla Cullen (NZSS)
FINAL PLACINGS
1st New Zealand Secondary Schools
2nd School Sport Australia
3rd Pasifika
4th Aotearoa Maori
5th Indigenous School Sport Australia
6th Netball North Invitational Team
OVERVIEW OF GRAND FINAL
New Zealand Secondary Schools v School Sport Australia
The New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Team have come from behind and defeated School Sport Australia after being down in the first three quarters of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Netball Tournament Grand Final.
Like the previous match yesterday between the two sides, School Sport Australia got out to a confident lead. Midcourters Emily Chapple (C) and Vanessa Augustini (WA) were accurate with their long passes into goal shoot Olivia Burnett, whilst first quarter jitters got to the New Secondary Schools midcourt players who failed to put enough height behind their passes into Te Paea Selby-Rickit (GS) and Kayla Cullen (GA). New Zealand managed to slowly peg back the lead and went into the first quarter break down 10 – 7.
The second quarter saw a composed School Sport Australia team as goal attack and captain Sarah Main set up play beautifully for her team. The New Zealand defensive end worked overtime and created many opportunities that were not capitilised on. School Sport Australia continued to push ahead and went into halftime leading 17 -13
With the introduction of Sophia Fenwick to goal shoot and Anderley Gordon to centre in the third quarter, New Zealand Secondary Schools began to settle and find their range. The new shooting combination of Kayla Cullen and Sophia worked well as Kayla drove the baseline and Sophia held off School Sport Australia goal keep Demi Woodlock who had an outstanding game. School Sport Australia wing defence Madeline Hill made it difficult for the New Zealanders in the midcourt as she picked off one intercept after another. School Sport Australia went into the last quarter up by just one 23 – 22.
The last quarter was goal for goal until the New Zealand Secondary Schools defensive combination of Emma Weenink and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick picked off some crucial intercepts within around 5 minutes to go. New Zealand took to the lead and worked hard to maintain it. They took their time when passing and reset play on many occasions by passing back to captain Sheridan Bignall at wing defence. They stayed composed to the whistle and took the game 30 - 28