Netballers find nationals tough going

St Matthews Collegiate won full marks for resolve but found the going tough on the opening day of the national secondary schools netball finals in Timaru yesterday.
The top 12 secondary school teams in the country qualified for the event with St Matthews competing at this level for the very first time.
First up they played New Plymouth Girls High School, winners of the lower North Island tournament in Palmerston North at which St Matthew's had placed fourth.
The defensive work of St Matthew's in the opening stages was outstanding with Rosie Mahoney and Julia Biggs placing sustained pressure on the opposition shooters and taking a number of intercepts.
However, St Matthew's did have trouble bringing the ball through the midcourt and by halftime New Plymouth had moved out to a 15-9 lead.
The second spell saw New Plymouth increase their advantage. They closed down St Matthew's options at the centre pass and also applied considerable pressure around the edge of the shooting circle. St Matthew's goal attack Haley Ross made the most of her chances, scoring with consistency. New Plymouth won 35-19.
St Matthew's met Massey High in their second game and were outclassed by a slick Massey side which was impressive in all departments. Massey won 56-17.
Today St Matthew's were scheduled to play Ronalli College from Timaru and Verdon College from Southland, the latter being coached by Southern Sting coach Robyn Broughton.
Several of the teams include players who recently contested the national senior championships in Palmerston North.
Reigning champions Hillcrest High from Hamilton are spearheaded by Evelyn Horomia, a member of Waikato's premier side.
Mt Albert Grammar's star shooter Maria Tutaia was recently invited to the A training camp in Queenstown where she trained alongside current Silver Fern and New Zealand A players. She and Auckland Girls Grammar player Katrina Grant have been named in the national under-21 team for next year's World Youth championships.
Auckland Girls Grammar have actually qualified for this tournament in 10 of the last 12 years and have been eight times in the final.
The Lincoln High School team contains a number of multi-talented sports people with Leesha Morrish being the South Island under-18 badminton champion and Lauren Clegg the Canterbury secondary schools tennis champion.
In the Inglewood High side is Lauren Burgess who holds the national record for women's pairs at indoor rowing and who has repped for Taranaki in athletics, rugby and 10-pin bowling.