The Rotorua Girls' High School under-15 sevens team celebrate with the under-15 Female Cup after winning in the final at the 2016 Condor Sevens tournament. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
The Rotorua Girls' High School under-15 sevens team celebrate with the under-15 Female Cup after winning in the final at the 2016 Condor Sevens tournament. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
The Rotorua Girls' High School under-15 sevens team is packed with potential "future national stars", according to team manager Carolyn Katu, after the team won a top title at the 2016 Condor Sevens national secondary schools tournament.
The local school side beat Aorere College 19-0 in the under-15 Female Cup final at Sacred Heart College in Auckland on Friday.
Katu, who has managed the team for two years, was "over the moon" with her "history-making side". The Rotorua Girls' team were playing in their first ever Condor tournament, and Katu said getting the basics right was essential.
"I think everyone's a bit shell-shocked," she said "We were certainly viewed as the underdogs going in but I always knew the girls had the potential to go all the way.
"The side executed a well thought out plan throughout the whole tournament and we made sure to get the basic skills set right. That gave us the confidence to then go on and play with confidence."
Rotorua Girls' also had player Kahlia Kiel named as MVP of the tournament in her age grade and selected in the under-15 tournament team with teammates Te Aomihi Williams Paul and Siobahn Taute-Collier.
Rotorua Girls' High School sevens players (from left) Te Aomihi Williams Paul, Kahlia Kiel and Siobhan Taute-Collier were selected in the under-15 sevens tournament team. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
"It was a team effort but these girls were big standouts. I really believe they can be future stars in the game and we want to create a culture at this school where we are producing national and Olympian players," Katu said.
Rotorua Girls' dominated from the off in their crucial final clash. Kiel dived over for the first try, converted by Williams Paul - who then added a breakaway try off the back of a scrum to take her side into the break with a 12-0 advantage.
In the second half Kiel added another try, sealing an impressive win which they added to their North Island under-15 title they won earlier this year.
Rotorua Girls' coach Jimmy McLean said: "We knew our players' individual skill sets would take us far into the tournament so we asked them to be mentally focused and treat every game like the final.
"The girls played with lots of heart and determination from our forwards working tirelessly up front to our backs capitalising on every opportunity."
Rotorua Girls' High School principal Ally Gibbons added: "As a school we are absolutely delighted with the win and acknowledge all the hard work and effort by students and management to win on the national stage in the pinnacle of secondary schools' sevens tournaments."
Rotorua Girls' High School under-15 2016 Condor Sevens results:
Pool play:
Rotorua Girls' High School 28 Kaipara College 0 Rotorua Girls' High School 12 Mt Roskill Grammar 0 Rotorua Girls' High School 38 Green Bay College 5
