Local schools top at North Island netball comp

Two Palmerston North secondary schools competed in the final of the Lower North Island Secondary School Netball Championships on Friday in Wellington. Tu Toa beat Palmerston North Girls’ High School 27-20 after both teams went through pool play unbeaten.

A close yet low scoring game saw Tu Toa get off to a good start only for Girls’ High to claw their way back into the match late in the third quarter. Tu Toa held on to win and make it three from three in matches between the two schools this year.

Palmerston North Girls’ High School and Tu Toa both play in the Netball Manawatu Premier Netball competition and are no strangers to playing each other, matching up twice in regular competition.

“It’s fantastic to see such great strength in secondary school netball across a number of schools in our region,” say Sport Manawatu’s Ben Koch.

Other Manawatu sides competing in the Lower North Islands in the A Grade were Nga Tawa (9th place), Feilding High School (19th), St Peter’s College (21st) as well as teams competing in the B Grade such as Freyberg High School (3rd), Dannevirke High School (11th) and Horowhenua (18th).

Netball Manawatu General Manager Louise Clarke says; “it’s great to see so many teams doing so well and shows the true depth that is being developed in Netball in the region.”

Both sides have qualified for the New Zealand Secondary School National Championships to be held in mid October in Napier.