U19 and U23 NZ Age Group Championships results
Day Four
Thursday 18 July
Daily Report
Waikato BOP win inaugural U23 title!
Waikato Bay of Plenty 1 took out the inaugural NZU23 netball championship title with a thrilling 47-46 win over the
South Zone team in Wellington on Thursday.
In an encouraging sign, it was evident that the future game is in safe hands, the young and classy finalists turning on
a fitting spectacle of fast-paced and exciting netball.
With three ANZ Championship players in their mix, South were the more experienced but Waikato Bay of Plenty’s fighting
spirit held them in good stead throughout.
With the teams level-pegging at 13-all at the first break, Waikato Bay of Plenty twice marched out to handy leads, the
creativity of goal attack Kendra Falefitu opening up the spaces for Brooke Leaver under the post as they propelled their
team to a handy 27-22 lead.
Young midcourters Nadia Loveday (wing attack) and the inspiring play of New Zealand Secondary Schools co-captain
Samantha Sinclair (centre) ensured Waikato Bay of Plenty were always in the contest, cool heads and patience required
when working the ball through the experienced South defensive wall of Stacey Peeters, Phoenix Karaka and Storm Purvis.
When they got it right, South were explosive on attack but lacked the consistency to stamp any real authority, Waikato
Bay of Plenty doing an excellent defensive job of stalling their momentum.
A change in their midcourt coincided with Waikato Bay of Plenty going completely off the boil after halftime, South
swooping at the opportunity to get back into the contest.
With captain Gina Crampton inspiring with some slick feeding from the pivot’s role, tall shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit
responded under the hoop, a threatening South looking to impose themselves.
Waikato Bay of Plenty steadied the ship with the re-introduction of Sinclair, who had been substituted at halftime but
it was South who went to the last break with the momentum and a narrow 39-38 lead.
In a nail-biting final quarter, the result remained in doubt until the final whistle as the teams went toe-to-toe, play
swinging back and forth as one team then the other looked to put their seal on the match.
Young defender Jamie-Lee Price entered the fray for the final quarter, teaming with her New Zealand Secondary Schools
co-captain Sinclair. The two 17-year-olds presented a pair of wise heads as Waikato Bay of Plenty finally got over the
line in the frantic closing minutes, both teams having their opportunities on the back of a rush of turnovers.
South proved the more accurate shooting side but Waikato Bay of Plenty eventually prevailed on the back of winning the
possession stakes.
``That’s given me a few more grey hairs,’’ a relieved Waikato Bay of Plenty coach Mary-Jane Araroa said afterwards.
``Credit to both teams, South came out strongly and they played exceptionally well also.
``I’m really proud of my girls, they stuck at it. We had a mix of inexperience and experience and this is going to be
huge for them and their futures.’’
Mainland claimed third place after winning a close contest with Northern 1 58-56.
The U19 title also proved an evenly matched clash, Auckland 1 finishing strongly to overcome a gallant Wellington 34-32.
Playing 10-minute quarters in this age-group, the smaller Wellington team made the running for most of the match,
leading 10-7, 19-14 and 25-24 at the respective breaks but were overpowered by the fast-finishing Aucklanders in the run
home.
Auckland defenders Shekynah Clarke and Maraea Tipene eventually got the upper-hand over the shorter Wellington shooters
while goal attack Meretini Fuimaona proved an accurate cog under the post for the northerners.
NZ U19 Netball Championships – Results
ROUND 1:
Papakura defeated Southland 42-28
Hamilton defeated Wairarapa 58-20ROUND 2:
Whangarei defeated Eastern BOP 41-22
Waitakere defeated Howick Pakuranga42-26
ROUND 3:
Christchurch defeated Auckland (2) 39-34
Hutt Valley defeated Nelson 41-36
ROUND 4:
North Harbour defeated Eastern Waikato 39-30
Otago defeated Manawatu 40-32
Southland defeated Wairarapa 42-25
ROUND 5:
Hamilton defeated Papakura 41-36
ROUND 6:
Auckland (1) defeated Wellington 33-32
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:
Northern (2) defeated Waikato BOP Silver51-36
ROUND 2:
Mainland defeated Northern (1) 58-56
ROUND 3:
Central defeated Northern (2) 52-50
ROUND 4:
Waikato BOP Gold defeated South 47-46
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