Netball: HB schoolgirls return undefeated from Fiji with Aotearoa Maori team

Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey (left) and Asher Grapes have returned undefeated, as part of the Aotearoa Maori Secondary Schools netball team, in Suva, Fiji, last week. PHOTO/FILE

Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey and Asher Grapes have returned undefeated as members of the Aotearoa Maori secondary schools' netball team in Fiji.

The Maori side returned undefeated from the five-day International Under-19 Schools' Challenge last week with 10 victories over rivals, although defending champions New Zealand Secondary School did not play this year.

Aotearoa Maori beat All Australia Netball Team 40-28 in the final although it was a closer result, 30-26, in the final pool play match against the Aussies.

"It was really good to finish off the year because it was my last time so we finished it off with a bang," said Taylor-Chaffey, a year 13 Napier Girls' High School pupil in her second and final stint.

The excited 18-year-old defender also was on her first trip overseas, enjoying the cultural experience.

"It's so different to New Zealand. You can wave in a street and a taxi would pull up right next to you. Wow, that's so cool," she said of the team who went sightseeing and went swimming at Denaru Island.

Grapes didn't keep a record of her statistics but was happy with how her game panned out with the more than anticipated minutes on the court in her memorable overseas debut.

"It was really hot so it took a couple of days to get used to it so we adjusted quite well," said the 16-year-old goal attack who will have another year, if selected again, with the Maori team.

The Hastings Girls' High year 12 pupil said all the teams offered stiff challenges but Aoteroa Maori lifted their intensity in the third and fourth quarters while oppositions wilted in the humidity.

"The coaching and management staff did a great job and it showed in our performance," she said of an inspiring team environment.