Renee Savai'inaea is a National secondary schools rugby and basketball champion and was recently selected in the New Zealand Secondary Schools netball team earning a place in the Pulse squad for next year. So what’s her preference? “Netball,” the softly spoken Savai'inaea replies. Savai'inaea intends to abandon basketball in 2018 which is remarkable given she was a member of the St Mary’s team that won the National AA title three weeks ago in Palmerston North. Savai'inaea was named in the tournament team after top scoring for her school with 18 points in the final as St Mary’s denied St Peter’s Cambridge a three-peat success. In a remarkable match St Peter’s captain Charlisse Leger-Walker scored an incredible 48 points as she almost single-handedly won the game by herself.
“I wished she would stop,” Savai'inaea laughs. “We put one on her at the start and then it became two and three. Charlisse is amazing. It was a hard game.” Savai'inaea continues. With 3.13 left, St Mary’s desperately snaffled three offensive rebounds and Savai’inaea hit a three-pointer to extend their lead to 64-55, the largest of the match. Leger-Walker scored seven points in a row to close the margin to 64-62, but Savai’inaea hit three free throws to guide St Mary’s home. St Mary’s also defended their Wellington title and beat the same opponent Hutt Valley High School in the Zone 3 decider. Savai'inaea attributes St Mary’s win to teamwork. “Nixon Penese is an awesone coach. He is relaxed, but direct at the same time. We had a real good culture where every girl had a role to play.” Then there’s her rugby career, part of a world champion St Mary’s sevens team and now national champion 15s side. “We beat Hamilton Girls in a tough semi-final, and were too complacent heading into the final. We thought we had beaten the best team.” Savai'inaea concedes when reflecting on the 2016 National top four rugby final between Southland Girls’ High School and St Mary’s. St Mary’s was soundly beaten 46-29, but the First XV have bounced back hard in 2017 winning the National top four title and the Condor and Sanix World youth invitation sevens crowns. Savai'inaea typically plays lock or on the side of the scrum and appears alongside several of her basketball teammates, including Te Araroa Sopoaga, the sister of All Black Lima Sopoaga. “I really like rugby. I enjoy the physical challenge. My dad played in Wellington rep sides. We have a great culture where we are allowed to express ourselves,” Savai'inaea enthuses. New Zealand Secondary Schools player of the year Ainsleyana Puleiata pointed to her “support crew” when she ponders her successful season. The St Mary’s College of Wellington mid-courter was named the national secondary schools player of the year at New Zealand Secondary Schools Champs in Rotorua this week. Puleiata, who also excels at rugby, said she was “surprised and stoked” to pick up the award having been involved with an “incredibly talented bunch of girls” with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team which she captained this year. But she was quick to thank those around her for helping her succeed on court. “I’ve had so much support through this year,” she said. “People help me with my nutrition, my strength and conditioning, my physio – which has been really good for me because it means I was able to keep my performance consistent.” “There have been opportunities after opportunities this year and I’m really grateful for them,” she said at the conclusion of the national tournament this week. “It’s improved my netball skills and I feel blessed.” National secondary schools coach Mary-Jane Araroa said Puleiata’s natural leadership skills and flair through the mid-court had impressed this year. “She has a real speed and agility on court and reads the game so well,” she said. “I think her best attribute has been her vision and her ability to lead.”
Araroa said Puleiata was a very “coachable” player and showed plenty of respect not only to her fellow team-mates but also to management. It was her second season with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team and she was still eligible for another year. “We picked her up as a youngster and she’s just grown and grown in the team,” Araroa said. “We’ve been impressed with her skill and natural flair in her game.” Puleiata said her goals now were to push for next year’s Central Beko Netball League team with an eye of playing for the Central Pulse in the future. ![]() Howick College 33 (Leehava Saverio 20/24, Lasalle Lefale 13/13) beat Saint Kentigern College 25 (Hannah Ward 7/9, Ashleigh Garner 18/24). Quarter scores: 6-8, 15-16, 23-21, 33-25. Howick College have completed an outstanding NZSS Netball Tournament by claiming their maiden title, beating defending champions and Auckland rivals Saint Kentigern College in the final at Rotorua this afternoon. After beating St Kent’s by three goals in their first match of the tournament on Tuesday, Howick came from behind in the grand final with Saint Kentigern gaining the early break. ![]() Goal attack Ashleigh Garner led from the front for Saint Kentigern – sinking eight from eight in the opening spell – as her side held an 8-6 advantage at the first break. But momentum swung after the whistles for the second quarter with Howick netting five unanswered goals, their resurgence spurred on by goal keeper Nanise Waqaira who snaffled two intercepts in the spell. Shooter Leehava Saverio also came into the game netting eight from nine in the quarter as Howick closed the gap to one goal by half-time. The arm-wrestle continued into the third quarter with Saint Kentigern netting two quick goals before Howick started to assert their dominance and it was the latter which went into the fourth spell with a two-goal advantage. Saint Kentigern coach Nicola Lewis made a change in the shooting circle for the fourth quarter with Garner swapping bibs with goal shooter Hannah Ward. The switch made little difference as it was Howick which started the deciding spell the strongest with three straight goals giving it a sniff of victory. The back three of Waqaira, goal defence Shalom Setu-Veve and wing Iva Livani combined well with the trio picking up five intercepts and nine deflections between them as they stifled Saint Kentigern’s flow up front. Howick’s ability to share the shooting load again proved a strength to their game as they won the last quarter 10-4 to snare the spoils. Manawatu school Manukura ensured it wasn’t to be an Auckland one-two-three finish by beating Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 37-30 in the playoff for third and fourth. Manukura won the game with a strong second quarter, winning that 15-6 and leading 23-15 at halftime. Centre Braxton Te Rini was a stand-out in the middle for Manukura picking up five intercepts and feeding her shooters well. Manukura were also bookended by strong showings from goal keeper Antonia Heihei who snaffled five intercepts and six deflections while shooter Rochelle Fourie netted 30 goals for her side and picked up five valuable rebounds. Howick won the NZSS Nationals this year after qualifying fifth out of six teams in the recent UNISS tournament. Of note, they beat St Kent's 29-28 there too, so have won three on the trot against them. Finals Day results:
Final: Howick College 33 – Saint Kentigern College 25 3rd v 4th: Manukura 37 – Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 30 5th v 6th: Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 31 – Mount Albert Grammar School 27 7th v 8th: St Mary’s College 29 – St Hilda’s Collegiate. 9th v 10th: St Paul’s Collegiate 32 – Sacred Heart College 22 11th v 12th: St Margaret’s 42 – Ashburton College 17 13th v 14th: Palmerston North Girls' High School 37 – Queen Margaret College 27 15th v 16th: St Andrew's College 33 – Christchirch Girls’ High School 30 Howick College road to the title Beat Saint Kentigern College 30-27 Beat Palmerston North Girls' High School 35-20 Beat Christchurch Girls' High School 43-17 Beat Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 30-26 Beat St Hilda’s Collegiate 40-21 Beat Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 33-29 Beat Saint Kentigern College 33-25 Howick College squad list Dajian Brown Myia Hetaraka Susana Jones Lasalle Lefale Iva Livani Sal Pamatatau Tori Parker Leehava Saverio Shalom Setu-Veve Teuila Sotutu Su-Elyse Ulugia Nanise Waqaira Captains: Lasalle Lefale & Iva Livani Coach: Adelita Sotutu Assistant Coach: Jasmyn Pamatatau Manager: Chris Dyke Primary Care: Leah Belle Statistician: Jen-Rose Reu NZSS Netball last 10 winners 2017: Howick College 2016: Saint Kentigern College 2015 Mt Albert Grammar School 2014 Mt Albert Grammar School 2013 Mt Albert Grammar School 2012 Mt Albert Grammar School 2011 Tu Toa 2010 Mt Albert Grammar School 2009 Tu Toa 2008 Villa Maria College Most winners 5: Mount Albert Grammar School 4: Auckland Girls’ Grammar School 2: Bay of Islands College, Avondale College, Verdon College, Massey High School, Tu Toa, 1. Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, Wellington Girls’ College, Hillcrest High School, Villa Maria College, Howick College ![]() Last year’s runners-up Mount Albert Grammar School and first time participant Howick College are the two unbeaten sides after two days of four of the NZSS Netball Nationals being played at the National Events Centre in Rotorua. MAGS and Howick each topped their pools and also won their first top eight section matches on Wednesday evening. Howick College set the tournament alight on day one by upsetting defending champions Saint Kentigern College 30-27 in their opening encounter. Howick College, making their first appearance at the NZSS nationals then went on to defeat Palmerston North Girls’ High School and Christchurch Girls’ High School in pool play before toppling Waikato Diocesan 30-26 in tonight’s first crossover game. Howick’s win over St Kent’s also set up a tough Wednesday evening crossover fixture between St Kent’s (second behind Howick in Pool A) and Manawatu champions Manukura (Pool B winners). St Kent’s won that match 35-34. Meanwhile, MAGS won all their Pool C matches comfortably, before defeating Wellington’s St Mary’s College 35-27 in their opening top 8 fixture this evening. In tonight’s other top 8 crossover Section E and F match, Pool D winner Epsom Girls’ Grammar School (two wins from three in their pool games) lowered South Island champions St Hilda’s Collegiate 52-26. Draws and Results For full draws and results and to follow the tournament visit: http://www.netballnz.co.nz/competitions/competition-detail/nz-secondary-schools-netball-champs Pool play results – days one and two
Pool A Howick College 30 – Saint Kentigern College 27 Christchurch Girls’ High School 36 – Palmerston North Girls’ High School 30 Saint Kentigern College 50 - Christchurch Girls’ High School 20 Howick College 35 - Palmerston North Girls’ High School 20 Saint Kentigern College 46 - Palmerston North Girls’ High School 20 Howick College 43 - Christchurch Girls’ High School 17 Pool winner: Howick College Pool B Manukura 30 - Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 26 Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt 38 – St Margaret’s College 27 Manukura 38 – St Margaret’s College 22 Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 32 - Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt 28 Manukura 44 - Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt 18 Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 40 - St Margaret’s College 37 Pool winner: Winner: Manukura Pool C St Hilda's Collegiate School 39 – Queen Margaret College 27 Mount Albert Grammar School 51 – Ashburton College 25 Mount Albert Grammar School 41 – St Hilda’s Collegiate 21 Ashburton College 35 – Queen Margaret College 34 St Hilda's Collegiate School 44 – Ashburton College 27 Mount Albert Grammar School 56 v Queen Margaret College 25 Pool winner: Mount Albert Grammar School Pool D Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 31 – St Mary’s College 30 St Paul's Collegiate School 46 – St Andrew’s College 27 St Mary’s College 45 – St Andrew’s College 20 St Paul's Collegiate School 28 – Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 27 Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 53 – St Andrew’s College 29 St Mary’s College 32 - St Paul’s Collegiate School 28 Pool winner: Epsom Girls’ Grammar School Christchurch Girls’ High School last qualified for the NZSS Netball Nationals in 2013 when they finished 16th. Before that they attended the tournament in 2001 and 2003; their best result being in 2001 when they were runners-up. This year, CGHS qualified from the recent SISS tournament, finishing fifth behind winners St Hilda’s Collegiate, subsequently moved up to fourth qualifier following the withdrawal of Columba College. At Rotorua, CGHS are in Pool A and play Palmerston North Girls’ High School and defending champions Saint Kentigern College on day one on Tuesday. Some more about their team below. School: Christchurch Girls’ High School Coach: Andrea Cousins Captains: Greer Williams, Deputy Evie Dysart Team Members: Sam Adams, Shana Ali, Ella Bachop, Evie Dysart, Emma Hartnell, Charlotte Knight, Isla Kolien, Martha Lolohea, Kiah Ralph, Greer Williams What’s it going to take for your school to do well in the NZSS Nationals next week in Rotorua? Our team performs at our best when we use ball speed in any turn over ball from defence through to our shooters; players have great confidence in each other and let the ball go. Our defence right through the court is also a strength. The team members get on very well with each other and have fun on and off the court. We need to maintain our positive team culture throughout Nationals in Rotorua. What local competitions has your school team played in this year and how did your team go? Our team play in the Wednesday school SuperNet competition (we came 5th this year) and in the Saturday Christchurch Club competition. In the Saturday competition we play a mixture of school and club teams. This year our team won the Senior 1 competition, which was a fantastic result. One other event we played in this year, and won, was the annual Quadrangular tournament with Waitaki, Timaru and Avonside Girls’ High Schools. Who are your school’s closest rivals on the netball court? St Andrew’s College, St Margaret’s College, Ashburton College and Villa Maria College. Tell us about a memorable match your team has been involved in this year? In the SISS Netball tournament we had a great game against eventual winners St Hilda’s College. The game was close throughout, with some spectacular netball played on centre court at the Hagley Netball courts. St Hilda’s were the eventual winners by 6 goals, however, the team came off the court feeling proud of the game they had played. What’s the age make-up of your team? None of our team have participated in this tournament before. We have a mixture of year 11, 12 and 13 girls. What’s the strength of your team? In our team this year we have three Christchurch Netball Centre representative players. Kiah was a member of the Under 19 team and Sam and Shana were both in the Under 17 team. Three of our players were named in the talented players’ squad after the SISS tournament – a player from our shooting circle - Kiah, our mid court - Shana and our defence circle - Charlotte. We have particular strength right though the court! Shana and Charlotte are two of our year 11 players, which is great for the future of the team. Are there individuals in your team that also play other sports?
SIx of our team also play volleyball and all attended Volleyball Nationals this year. Two of the team are involved in Sevens and attended the Condor Nationals at the end of 2016. What other support has your team received to get to allow it to operate at the level it does? Our coach Andrea Cousins is also coach of Technical A netball team who were runners up in the Christchurch Netball Premier club competition. Andrea frequently brings some of her Technical players to the side line of our team’s games for inspiration and to add their input. In turn, our players have watched some of the Technical games to witness the skill and flair these older players display in their game. The team have had sponsors’ support through a newspaper advertising feature. They are grateful to the following businesses for their generosity: Performance Physio, Trevino’s Restaurant and Bar, L & A Apparel and Monograms, Ali’s Panel and Paint, Lewthwaite & Associates Limited (chartered accountants), Joe Brankin of Mike Pero Real Estate, Nairn Electrical, Canter Projects, Bailies Bar and Restaurant, Limit Zero and Nesbit Shearing Limited. Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt will be competing at the NZSS National Netball Tournament for the first time since 2012. Sacred Heart College qualified fifth from the Lower North Island tournament after narrowly missing out in previous years, pipping New Plymouth Girls’ High School 29-28 in a clutch penultimate match and then beating Newlands College 49-26 to seal their berth. The 2017 Hutt Valley champions and Wellington region runners-up this year, Sacred Heart College are initially grouped in Pool B in Rotorua. They open their tournament against Christchurch’s St Margaret’s College and also play Waikato Dio on day one. Some questions and answers below from coach Amy Atkinson. School: Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt Coach: Amy Atkinson Captains: Bridie Burns (c) Charity Polu (vc) Team Members: Bridie Burns, Charity Polu, Brooklyn Siemonek, Malia Pole’o, Taumaia Schuster, Nicola Donaldson, Livia Serepisos, Oakley Baldwin, Shaunee Mahuika, Pallas Potter, Taualai Sola, Danielle Tafili What’s it going to take for your school to do well in the NZSS Nationals coming up in Rotorua? Keep doing what we have been doing. We have a committed team of 12 players who are working towards the same goal. What local competitions has your school team played in this year and how did your team go? Our team played in both the Hutt Valley Secondary Schools premier 1 grade and the Wellington Regional Secondary Schools competition. We finished in first place for the Hutt Valley competition and second Place for Wellington Regional League. We also competed at Mission Cup, the annual Catholic Mission Schools tournament and won the tournament. Who are your school’s closest rivals on the netball court? We have two teams that we see as our rivals, both because we play them a number of times during the season and also because we respect them as netballers and the high standard of netball they produce. The first is St Oran’s from the Hutt Valley, who for the past three years we have played in the Hutt Valley Secondary Schools premier final. The second is St Marys College. We have an annual exchange with them and also play them in the Wellington Secondary Schools premier 1 competition. . Tell us about a memorable match your team has been involved in this year? We have had the good fortune to be involved is so many outstanding and memorable games of netball this season where the team has had the opportunity to play quality sides and quality netball. One such game was against New Plymouth Girls High School at LNISS. It was a must win game for both sides for the opportunity to play off for a spot at Nationals the next morning. Three minutes left in the match we were down by 3 but the girls fought right to the end. With seconds left on the clock our centre took a glory intercept which we scored off in umpire’s time to win the match by one. The whole team went crazy in excitement and it was like we had won the world cup. We then went on the have a comfortable win the next morning to qualify for nationals. What’s the age make-up of your team?
Our team is made up of Year 12 and 13 players. What’s the strength of your team? A strength of the team is how tight we are as a unit. Together the girls set the team goals and expectations for the season. Each girl worked hard all season to meet these expectations. We had a team of players who was prepared to do the work to achieve their goals. Most of the team have played netball together for a long time progressed through the grades together and just two players from the squad of 12 are in their first year in the team. Are there individuals in your team that also play other sports? The number of sports the girls play in our team is far and wide. Pallas Potter is the captain of the New Zealand Junior White Sox, Danielle Tafili was in both the Central Netball Beko and Super Club Pulse teams, Bridie Burns is in the NZ U17 indoor netball team who won the world championships in July and we have representative players for Touch NZ, Water Polo and Volleyball. This variety brings a wealth of experience to the team from a high level of competition and performance. Does your team have any pre or post game rituals or preparations? At LNISS we set the ultimate goal of qualifying for nationals. The team then identified four things we had to do on and off the court to reach that goal. This was taped above to doorway to the entrance of our accommodation. As we left for every game, each girl would tap the goal on their way out and take a moment to reflect on the goal and what we wanted to achieve as a team. What other support has your team received to get to allow it to operate at the level it does? The parents of our team are amazing. They have been extraordinarily supportive this season with them packing the sidelines each week and also travelling to New Plymouth for LNISS to support our quest for Nationals. They ran fundraisers, supplied copious amounts of food while at tournament, on the scorecard every match and 100% believed in the team. We have been extremely fortunate to have such an amazing mother as the manager of the team for the past two years who has also been the Ying to my Yang! She has been great to have on the sideline and a wonderful support. We have been incredibly fortunate that the AMNICO Foundation has funded the team for Nationals with a significant sum of money, without this we would be sausage sizzling until next year! The team is also grateful to Hutt Valley Secondary Schools Netball who gave the team a donation for nationals, and the school’s sports department who has also contributed financially and spent many hours preparing all the paperwork etc to get the team away on trips. Finally, the support of the teachers at SHC who have given up their Monday nights to come and watch the girls play. The girls love it and really appreciate it. Netting a second straight New Zealand Secondary Schools title will be the goal for St Kentigern College when they join netball’s leading schools in Rotorua. The Auckland school is one of 16 New Zealand teams coming together at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua from October 10-13 to compete at the national secondary schools championships. The defending champion Saint Kentigern College side, which won the title for the first time last year, returns along with last year’s finalists and fellow Auckland school Mount Albert Grammar School who will be another team to watch. The annual tournament, which was established in 1993 and is one of the most keenly contested events on the Netball New Zealand calendar, sees 16 teams from the Upper Norther Island, Lower North Island and South Island go head-to-head over four days. Three schools will be making their first appearance at the national tournament including Howick College, St Pauls Collegiate School and Queen Margaret College while Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) will be gunning for an unprecedented sixth crown. Saint Kentigern’s look set to defend their title with two national secondary schools representatives in Tayla Earle and Tori Kolose as well as Ashleigh Garner who played in this year’s Beko Netball League. They won their maiden schools crown last year with a thrilling one-goal finals victory, ending Mount Albert Grammar’s stranglehold on the tournament. MAGS are again coached by Paula Smith who was also part of the Beko League this year and sees the return of Lahaina-Lee Upu-Toparea who is in the national schools side. Last year’s mid-courter and defender of the tournament, Ainsleyana Puleiata and Renee Savai’inaea, will be back for St Mary’s College and both players are members of New Zealand’s Secondary Schools team. Other teams to watch include Epsom Girls’ Grammar School and Manukura who both boast national players while St Hilda’s Collegiate School will be spearheaded by the Heffernan twins, Georgia and Kate, who both played at the Beko League level.
Former Silver Ferns captain Julie Seymour will have her coaching hat on for the week with St Margaret’s College from Christchurch while fellow former Fern Angela Mitchell will guide Ashburton College as they return to the top 16. The four-day tournament will be an opportunity for national selectors Kiri Wills, Mary-Jane Araroa and Charissa Barham to gauge the talent at secondary school level. |
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