A group of Kaitaia ladies beat the odds to claim the women's title at the National C-Grade Superchamps in Taumarunui last weekend.
Team spokesperson Nirelle McDonald said the girls punched above their weight to secure the Hawke's Bay Shield, in going into the event as the 6th seeds.
"We madesome risky decision that paid off," she said, noting the girls left it all on the court as they claimed some big scalps on their way to the title at the event which attracted players from all over the country from September 16-19.
The 6th-seeded Kaitaia first beat hosts and 3rd seeds Taumaranui 4-1, then overwhelmed 7th seeds Manurewa 3-2, took out 2nd seeds Devoy Squash 3-2 by winning the deciding game in the 4th, and defeated 10th seeds Edgecombe 5-0 to earn their final's berth. There, the Kaitaia ladies faced off against Hawke's Bay (who also had created a big upset in beating top seeds Hamilton), winning the first two matches, losing the second then taking out the fourth match of five to claim bragging rights as the best C-grade women's team.
"The Hawke's Bay team were a wonderful team and the final was played in great spirit full of aroha as the Hawke's Bay team put it," said Nirelle, adding Manurewa, who won the team sportsmanship award, donned the royal blue shirts from Kaitaia to support the Far North side in the final's quest.
McDonald noted both teams in the final both featured only one junior each, with the rest deemed 'masters' for being over 35, "at least," while the biggest upset of the event was the side's win over Devoy Squash: "They were dumbstruck after the Kaitaia ladies had beaten them ... They couldn't believe what had just happened."
Kaitaia had won the right to represent Northland after beating Manaia in the eliminations qualifiers in Kamo earlier in the year. Elsewhere, singled out for special praise was Jill Turketo for taking on the unenviable job of managing the Far North ladies at the Superchamps, which McDonald admitted would have been like "herding cats".
