Hawke's Bay will play for ninth to 12th positions on the final day of the under-17 national netball tournament in Auckland today after a win and a loss yesterday.
The Lee-Anne Taylor-coached side lost 44-21 to Wellington Black A but bounced back to beat Dunedin 44-36 on day three at the outdoor Pukekohe Netball Centre.
"While the score difference was large I was incredibly proud of how our girls never gave up," said Taylor, singling out defenders Bree White, Valentine Kahukura and Jaimee Tapine in combination with captain Hinehea Keil and Summer-Rose Taylor set the platform for the second day.
Taylor felt the Wellington score didn't reflect the intensity and skill of her players.
Down 11-4 after the first quarter and 22-10 at halftime, the Bay threw the kitchen sink in the final spell to match the victors but it wasn't enough.