Netball: Strong competition in U19s

New Zealand Secondary Schools and Aotearoa Maori U19s face off at the Transtasman U19 Netball Tournament yesterday. Kelly Jury (left AMU19), Tiana Metuarau (NZSS) and Izzy Chan (AMU19). Photo / Stephen Parker

The Transtasman Under-19 Tournament enters its last stage in Rotorua today, with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team looking in a strong position to take home the crown.

A 35-25 victory over Aotearoa Maori U19s yesterday morning gave NZSS three wins from their first three games. A rematch between the two teams was being played at 7.15pm yesterday evening, after the Rotorua Daily Post's deadline.

Four teams are taking part in this year' competition - New Zealand Secondary Schools, Aotearoa Maori U19s, Australia U19 Green, and Australia Under 19 Gold. Final games in the tournament are taking place at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre today.

NZSS coach and former Silver Fern Julie Seymour said she was pleased with the morning performance against Aotearoa Maori, but insisted there was still work to be done. "As a coach, you always want improvement," she said. "Defending we did really well and put on a lot of pressure, [but] attacking there were some unnecessary stressed passes."

Three wins in as many matches was a solid start to the competition, but there was little room for error: Seymour said the standard of play at this year's tournament was much higher than her last visit to Rotorua as coach in 2013. "This is good, because every game is hard," she said. "It's important that we can step up, and not be totally predictable."

Jill Clapcott, team manager for NZSS, said the team's unbeaten record belied the tough nature of the tournament. "It's definitely strong competition. Any game is anybody's."

This NZSS team had never played together competitively before this week's tournament, after being selected from trials earlier in the month. Clapcott praised the team for managing to gel so quickly."They are still learning each other, and getting to know each other as people," she said.

A crowd of around 200 was in attendance for the NZSS vs Aotearoa game yesterday morning, and Clapcott said the support had provided a welcome boost.

Spectator entry to the tournament is by gold coin donation. A volunteer manning the entry desk yesterday couldn't confirm exact crowd numbers, but said that around $590 had been collected at the desk on Monday.

Te Aroha Keenan, former Silver Fern and Aotearoa Maori U19s coach, said the tournament was a good learning experience for the young netball players.

"It's hard having two games a day, but that's what the level of professional netball is. And the other bonus is playing against the Australians ... " Keenan said the strength and height of the teams visiting from over the ditch made for particularly tough set of matches.

Australia Green beat Australian Gold 37-29 yesterday morning, making them the higher-placed Aussie side going into the evening matches.

Hayley Smith, Netball New Zealand event manager, said Rotorua provided an ideal location to a host a tournament, especially one with international participants.

"It's quite central, so it's good for players from around the country. And it gives the Australians quite a lot in terms of tourist attractions."