Topsix spot eludes St Hilda’s
ST Hilda’s Collegiate fell short of its goal of finishing in the top six at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships in Rotorua this week.
But coach Lana Morrison was upbeat about her side’s performance.
St Hilda’s lost its final match, 2920, to Wellington’s St Mary’s College. It had to settle for eighth — two spots off its target.
‘‘It was pretty awesome, really,’’ Morrison said.
‘‘It has been a tough week and the girls have given it everything they’ve got.’’
The school missed out on qualifying for the top eight last year and finished 11th.
The jump from the bottom eight to the top eight was huge, Morrison said. And while her side was unable to win a game, she felt her players had improved.
‘‘It is another level but the girls played their wee hearts out. In the last game I think we just got tired.’’
Wing defence Meg Timu, daughter of former All Black John Timu, was a standout. She hoovered up any loose ball which came remotely in her vicinity and led the competition in ‘‘pickups’’.
‘‘It is a really good stat to have as a defender.’’
Centre Kate Heffernan used her long limbs to snaffle her share of intercepts and disrupted a lot of ball. Her connection with her twin sister, shooter Georgia Heffernan, is another feature of her game.
Defender Mara McCurdy ‘‘had the tournament of her life and the season of her life’’.
‘‘She played some outstanding netball against some very tall attackers. And Georgia Heffernan just turns and shoots and is on the rankings for one of the best shooters here.’’
Howick College, making its first appearance at the tournament, beat St Kentigern College 3325 in the final to claim the title.
Manukura finished a successful week with third place after beating Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 3730.