Ready for top four
A trip into the unknown hasn’t fazed the Manukura girls’ team.
Manukura are competing in the national secondary schools top-four finals in Palmerston North this weekend, starting with Southland Girls’ High School in the semifinal today at the Sport and Rugby Institute.
Manukura coach Kristina Sue had the side at a training camp this week.
‘‘We’ve been building up to this from the local secondary schools tournament, right up to the big fixtures we’ve had recently against Hamilton Girls’ High School, Feilding High School and St Mary’s College,’’ she said.
Hamilton and Aorere College from Auckland are in the other semifinal.
Southland have been to every girls’ top four since its inception in 2012, while it is a first for Manukura.
Feilding High School will look to continue their strong record in the co-ed competition, when their boys’ first XV play Rangiora High School in the semifinal.
Feilding lost last year’s final 31-3 to St Peter’s Cambridge, but did win the title the previous season. Feilding also won the 2009 and 2014 titles.
Feilding are coming off two big wins in qualifying, having thrashed Wairarapa College 64-12 and Wellington’s Aotea College 53-10 in the past two weeks.
In the boys’ competition, Hamilton Boys’ High School will play Auckland champions St Peter’s College in one semifinal and Hurricanes champions Napier Boys’ High School will play South Island winners Christchurch Boys’ High School.
Friday draw: Girls: Aorere College v Hamilton GHS, 10.30am; Manukura v Southland GHS, 11.45am. Co-ed: Mt Albert Grammar School v St Peter’s Cambridge, 1.30pm; Feilding HS v Rangiora HS, 2.45pm. Boys: St Peter’s College Auckland v Hamilton BHS, 1.10pm; Napier BHS v Christchurch BHS, 2.55pm. Manukura (from): 1 Hinewai Netana-williams, 2 Season Blackburnkingi, 3 Jannali Ruawai, 4 Madison Hodgson, 5 Mia Waiariki, 6 Jasmine O’connell, 7 Izzy Rewiri-wharerau, 8 Phoenix Huriwai; 9 Lucy Brown (captain), 10 Kalyn Takitimu-cook, 11 Deli Taylor, 12 Kaia-hayes Walker-waitoa, 13 Paris Paul, 14 Plum King, 15 Carys Dallinger. Reserves: 16 Kataraina Kelly, 17 Ariana Taylor, 18 Ngakura Ponga, 19 Leiana Marshall-barton, 20 Selena Williams-paap, 21 Nicola Chase. Feilding HS (from): 15 Terrence Graham, 14 Frank Prodger, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Faleseu Tauailoto, 11 Coby Osborne, 10 Layton Manuel, 9 Conor Mceldowney; 8 Faamanu Siaosi-kaloho, 7 Huntah Digby, 6 James Bolton, 5 Mark Coogan, 4 TK Howden, 3 Leo Wiki, 2 Adam Thomas, 1 Javiah Wharerau. Reserves: 16 Isaiah Robati, 17 Tyreese Adams, 18 Xaviir Kirk, 19 Ngapuke Patea, 20 Joe Locke, 21 Jonty Stewart, 22 Paul Wiperi-raukatau, 24 Josh Pakai.