Three-peat for Mumba Hinds

Mumba Hinds have won their third premier women’s club title in a row.

They won a close final 69-66 against schoolgirl team Manukura at the Arena, Palmerston North, last week, the third year in a row they have won.

Veteran coach Joe Frost coaches both teams, but for the final he took Manukura, while his daughter Shaani Tematafrost and Jamie Maoate looked after the Massey University team.

Slow Break won the men’s competition, ending Palmerston North Boys’ High School’s run of two wins in a row.

Slow Break won the decider 83-62. The P-town Crooks won their fifth social grade title in a row, beating Trey Squad 67-51 in the final.

In the secondary schools competition, Manukura won their first girls’ title, beating Palmerston North Girls’ High School 69-58, in front of a good crowd.

Boys’ High White won the boys’ competition, beating fellow school side Boys’ High Blue 83-78.

Boys’ High Karaka won the junior premier boys competition, beating Boys’ High Whero 68-33.

The New Zealand secondary schools championships are at the Arena in Palmerston North next week and Manawatu¯ will have four teams in action.

Palmerston North Boys’ High School are in pool A in the premier competition and have performed well the past two years, including reaching the final in 2016.

Boys’ High are in pool C with Rangitoto College, Auckland Grammar School, Middleton Grange School (Christchurch), Otago Boys’ High School and Hastings Boys’ High School.

Palmerston North Girls’ High School are in pool D along with Hamilton Girls’ High School, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, Napier Girls’ High School, Fraser High School (Hamilton) and Nelson’s Waimea College. Pool games run from Monday to Wednesday, then playoffs start on Thursday. Finals are on Saturday.

In the A competition for smaller schools, Manukura are in pool A in the girls’ competition, along with Te Kura Kokiri (Papamoa), Kavanagh College (Dunedin) and Canterbury’s Ellesmere College.