Auckland Waitakere win inaugural national under-17 title
Auckland Waitakere were the winners of the inaugural Anna Rowberry Cup when they beat Wellington Black 31-25 in the final of the NZ Age Group U17 Netball Championships in Wellington today.
The four-day event, the first Netball New Zealand (NNZ) championships held for this age-group, and including 26 Regional or Centre teams, was deemed a resounding success by officials.
``It was a very successful event and I think in the end, for their consistency throughout, it was the best two teams who made it to the final,’’ Netball New Zealand Talent Development Manager Leigh Gibbs said.
``We were very pleased with the standard on show during the four days and the new talent that has emerged from it.’’
It was a fitting final which remained tightly contested through the four 10-minute quarters. The taller Auckland Waitakere team held a slight edge through the first half to enjoy 8-5 and 15-11 leads at the respective breaks.
Wellington stormed back in the third quarter and were rewarded for their patience and consistency to nudge ahead 20-19 at three-quarter time. However, seven unanswered goals on the resumption was enough to propel a resurgent Auckland Waitakere back into a handy lead which they retained until the final whistle.
The tournament team named at the conclusion of the event will now become part of NNZ’s talent development programme with their starting point for national representative selection being the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.
``Having 26 teams at this first event was a great starting point and it will grow from here,’’ Gibbs said.
``The quality of defensive players and the height on show was particularly pleasing.’’
Wellington defender Emma Weenink was named player of the tournament.
Placings:
1ST Auckland Waitakere
2ND Wellington Black
3RD Hamilton City
4TH North
5TH Taranaki
6TH Auckland Centre
7TH Counties Manukau
8TH Hastings
9TH Manawatu
10TH Hutt Valley
11TH Christchurch
12TH Mid Canterbury
13TH Dunedin
14TH Southland
15TH Nelson
16TH Wairarapa
17TH Wellington Gold
18TH Bay of Plenty
19TH Wanganui
20TH Marlborough
21ST Gisborne
22ND Kapi Mana
23RD Waitakere Centre
24TH Horowhenua
25TH Thames Valley
26TH Kapiti
Tournament Selections:
Alisha Akari – Wellington Centre Black
Tera Maria Amani – Auckland Waitakere
Kelsey Ashworth – Mid Canterbury
Anna Cleland – Taranaki
Aleesha Coulter – Auckland Waitakere
Olivia Dunn – Wellington Centre Black
Rhiarna Ferris – Manawatu
Chonaire Huriwai – Auckland Waitakere
Emma Kirkpatrick – Wellington Centre Black
Melissa Kerr – North
Hayley McKenzie – Wellington Centre Black
Storm Purvis – Auckland Centre
Terai Sadler – Taranaki
Laura Schnuriger – Hamilton City
Te Hapai Selby-Law – Manawatu
Amelia Smith – North
Geneva Tavita – Auckland Waitakere
Alisha van Dyk – Hamilton
Emma Weenink – Wellington Centre Black
Bryony Wilson – Hamilton City
Best Attacking player
Olivia Dunn – Wellington Centre Black
Best Midcourt player
Laura Schnuriger – Hamilton City
Best Defensive player
Emma Weenink – Wellington Centre Black
Player of the Tournament
Emma Weenink – Wellington Centre Black