High School finish season with flourish

After nine games in five days, the tired Whanganui High School and Wanganui Collegiate players get together after their match yesterday.

Whanganui High School finished the best of the locals at the Lower North Island Secondary Schools tournament with a 30-16 win over Wanganui Collegiate on finals day at Laird Park yesterday.

WHS finished seventh overall in A Grade, with Collegiate eighth, while Cullinane College came 29th in the grade.

Coach Lisa Murphy said she was happy with the effort of the young squad, having surpassed their finish of 10th last year.

"Every player contributed to the games all week playing nine games over five days."

Three of them were named in the A grade tournament team.

Tall goal shoot Montel Vaiao Aki impressed at only 15-years-old, the team's veteran midcourter Ruhia Tamati linked well in games, while defender Kahurangi Sturmey led by example and turned over valuable possession.

The A Grade title was won by Manukura, who defeated St Mary's Wellington 27-24 in the final.

In the B Grade competition, City College finished 22nd, while Wanganui Girls College was 26th overall.