Netball: Girls transform from raw recruits into title winners

CHAMPIONS: The New Zealand Sports Academy side in action against Ngongotaha on Thursday night in Tauranga. New Zealand Sports Academy players included Jayde Selwyn (with ball) and centre Jodi-Tod Elliott. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Former Magic coach Noeline Taurua has used her experience to guide the NZ Sports Academy to a major title in Tauranga.

Taurua is the director of the New Zealand Sports Academy netball programme in Rotorua, which was launched earlier this year.

A group of 13 girls, mainly from Rotorua, signed up for the programme and have been training like professionals while working towards a sports certificate.

The academy also entered a team into the Harbourside netball competition at ASB Arena in Tauranga.

"We started in division two and slowly worked our way up to win the first division," Taurua said.

In the division one final on Thursday night, the New Zealand Sports Academy went up against Ngongotaha in an all-Rotorua final.

Helped by star players Erena Mikaere (West Coast Fever) and Jodi-Tod Elliott (Northern Mystics), who worked with the girls, the academy won the final 55-46.

"We ended up winning by nine points, but we didn't pull that out until the last five minutes of the last quarter," Taurua said.

"The scoreline does not reflect the toughness of the game and the passion behind both teams. And because both teams were from Rotorua, it was really neat to see."

Taurua said she was proud of her girls and it reflected well on the academy.

"When people see where we started from and the level that we started from, it is an amazing transformation. It exceeded my expectation and exceeded my belief in what we can do," she said.

"The majority of the girls have not performed at that level before so it gives them confidence that they can perform at that level. They have opened up their mindset and repertoire and [have learned] that if you work hard you can achieve."

The New Zealand Sports Academy netball programme is a one-year course which runs fulltime during the week.

The 13 girls involved are aged between 17 and 22.

Taurua said she was passionate about the programme and would be involved again next year.

The successful academy netball team included Jennifer Savage, Jade Tapsell, Ngawai Tawa, Monica Falkner, Hinemaui Parata (captain), Donna Livingstone, Jayde Selwyn, Rahera Rauwhero, Gemma Hika, Tyla Chase, Makuini Hapi, Bianca Halbert-Murphy, Shakeera Ututaonga and guest players Mikaere and Elliott.

Noeline Taurua will be holding a presentation about the NZ Sports Academy netball programme on Tuesday August 19 at the Rotorua Netball Centre at 6pm.