High School Old Girls returned to Gisborne senior netball's Premier Grade in 2025 and went on to win the title. However, the club will not have a premier team this season.
High School Old Girls returned to Gisborne senior netball's Premier Grade in 2025 and went on to win the title. However, the club will not have a premier team this season.
Gisborne senior netball’s 2025 Premier Grade champions will not defend the title this season.
Grading starts for the teams in all grades this Saturday and Taste One HSOG will not be among the premier teams.
HSOG made a successful return to the Premier Grade last year, beating YMP 41–35 inthe grand final on August 23 to claim the Jan Duncan Memorial Trophy.
It was the club’s first season back in the top grade after a two-year absence.
High School Old Girls have a long and proud netball history. The club’s first team competed in the inaugural Poverty Bay competition in 1928.
Courtside euphoria as High School Old Girls beat YMP to win the Jan Duncan Memorial Trophy in 2025. Photo / Murray Robertson
HSOG committee member and life member Carla Boyle said it was a “big disappointment” they would not be defending the premier crown.
“They did an amazing thing in taking out the Premier Grade championship in the centenary year of the High School Old Boys Sport Club (last year),” Boyle said.
“We are all really proud of the girls and grateful for what they did as a team, so not to have a team this year is disappointing.”
Boyle said the HSOG committee and HSOB sports club as a whole supported Owen’s decision.
“We understand Tanya’s decision completely. We wish the players all the best and who knows - maybe next year things might change again and we could have a team back in premiers.
“In the meantime, as a committee and sports club, we will fully support the teams we have in the other grades,” Boyle said.
Owen echoed her sentiments.
“I wish the players all the best this season and I will be there courtside when I can to watch them and cheer them on.”
Powerhouse defender Alex Sinclair, a key part of HSOG's Premier Grade title win last year, will play her netball for Whangara Old Girls this season. Photo / Paul Rickard
Gisborne Netball Centre manager Allisa Hall said this sort of thing had happened before with clubs.
“They finish a season on a high then a lot of players or coaches decide not to come back into the team the following year. You do see player and coach movement happen.
“It’s always disappointing to lose a team from your Premier Grade, regardless of whether they were champions or not,” Hall said.
“Ultimately we want to have the best competition we can across all grades, but especially at the top.”
Netball commentator Sherrill Beale said it was a shame but understandable.
After HSOG’s decision, a couple of last season’s premier grade players have gone to the likes of Waikohu and Whangara Old Girls.
“I am really pleased to see that,” Beale said. “They will strengthen those other teams and we will still see their great skills on display in our competition.
“You need a whole team - players, reserves and a coach - to compete at the top end of a competition like ours.”
High School Old Girls will have four teams spread across the other grades.
