U19 and U23 NZ Age Group Championships results day 3
Day Three
Wednesday 17 July
Daily Report
Waikato BoP and South to meet in U23 final
Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 and South will meet in the inaugural U23 Age Group Championship final tomorrow after Wednesday’s
contrasting semi-finals in Wellington.
Unbeaten through round robin play, the top-seeded Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 were made to work hard by the talented
fourth-seeded Northern 1 line-up before nudging ahead and sealing a late 45-42 win. The northerners produced their best
outing of the championship to push the favourites all the way in a closely fought contest.
The second-seeded South completed a more comfortable win when outclassing the third-paced qualifier Mainland 63-52 to
seal their spot in the final. The impressive South Zone team held a decisive edge throughout and were never seriously
challenged in the South Island derby.
No more than three goals separated Northern 1 and Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 during a feisty and physical clash, the
northerners leading by one at the first break and two at halftime. Finding more flow on attack through midcourters
Ann-Helen Rasmussen and Kelly Griffin, the shooting duo of Malia Paseka and Catrina Botes often found perfect
positioning for close range shooting as the northerners dictated the pace during the first half.
It was a different story at the other end where Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 shooters Brooke Leaver and Harley Smith received
a more disjointed service courtesy of Northern 1s rangy defenders.
Momentum swung slightly in the second half, the introduction of creative goal attack Kendra Falefitu giving Waikato Bay
of Plenty 1 more options on attack as the space in their circle opened up and tall shooter Leaver, the game’s most
accurate shooter, took full advantage.
Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 edged to a two-goal lead at three-quarter time, Northern 1 levelling up quickly on the
resumption to set up a thrilling goal-for-goal run to the line.
There were plenty of errors in the desperate closing minutes, Waikato Bay of Plenty’s outstanding full court defence
providing crucial turnovers which ultimately proved the winning of the match.
``The semi-final nerves got to our girls a little bit,’’ Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 coach Mary-Jane Araroa said. ``But it
was pleasing to see we left everything out there on court and gritted it out.
``Credit to Northern, they turned up for the semi-final. We knew it wasn’t going to be handed to us but they really
stepped up and showed what they’re capable of.’’
The other match provided a more fluid spectacle, South getting away to a flyer on the back of an almost seamless through
court transition as they romped out to an early 7-3 advantage. Mainland were quick to reel them back in, briefly taking
the lead at 8-7, their first and last lead of the match.
The sharp and accurate through court play of attackers Hayley Crofts (centre), Gina Crampton (wing attack), and Kirsten
Craig (goal attack) set up perfect ball for the dominant figure of shooter Te Paea Selby Rickit, South reeling off 11
unanswered goals to stamp their control on the match.
Bolting into a first quarter lead of 20-11, South continued to build on their dominance, the defensive line of Storm
Purvis, Phoenix Karaka and Stacey Peeters ensuring Mainland’s dangerous shooters Elizabeth Hayman and Sophia Fenwick
were kept quiet throughout.
South moved out to a 33-24 halftime lead which was extended to 47-36 at three-quarter time, Mainland introducing
towering goalkeeper Moneik van Rossum in the final quarter in a last ditch bid to stem the flow but to no avail.
``It was a great win and we’re really happy with that,’’ South coach Noeline Scott said. ``It all just clicked today
which is nice.’’
Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 had earlier cemented top seeding for the semi-finals with a convincing 67-52 win over Mainland
to be the only unbeaten team through round robin play.
In the U19 championship, the two best sides, Wellington and Auckland 1 will meet in the final.
NZ U19 Netball Championships -
ROUND 1:
Hamilton defeated Papakura 45-29
Wairarapa drew Southland 27-27
ROUND 2:
Eastern BOP defeated Howick Pakuranga 44-27
Nelson defeated Waitakere 35-26
ROUND 3:
Eastern Waikato defeated Manawatu 36-33
North Harbour defeated Christchurch 46-18
ROUND 4:
Wellington defeated Auckalnd (2) 42-32
Auckland (1) defeated Otago 38-35
ROUND 5:
Hamilton defeated Southland 39-21
Hutt Valley defeated Eastern BOP 40-26
ROUND 6:
Papakura defeated Wairarapa53-17
Nelson defeated Whangarei 32-26
ROUND 7:
Eastern Waikato defeated Wellington 30-29
Otago defeated Christchurch 46-44
ROUND 8:
Auckland (1) defeated North Harbour 34-32
Manawatu defeated Auckland (2) 43-32
U19 TEAMS
Hamilton City Netball Centre
North Harbour Netball Centre
Auckland Netball Centre 1
Auckland Netball Centre 2
Wellington Netball Centre
Otago
Eastern Bay of Plenty Netball Centre
Southland
Christchurch Netball Centre
Nelson Netball Centre
Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre
Waitakere Netball Centre
Netball Manawatu
Netball Taranaki Centre
Whangarei Netball Centre
Papakura Netball Centre
Hutt Valley Netball Centre
Netball Wairarapa
Eastern Waikato Netball Centre
NZ U23 Netball Championships – Results
ROUND 1:
Waikato BOP Gold defeated Mainland 67-52
ROUND 2:
Central defeated Northern (2) 53-52
South defeatedWaikato BOP Silver 77-37
ROUND 3:
Waikato BOP Gold defeated Northern (1) 45-42
ROUND 4:
South defeated Mainland 63-52
U23 TEAMS
Northern Zone 1
Northern Zone 2
Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone Gold
Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone Silver
Central Zone
Mainland Zone
South Zone
ENDS