Under 17s notch up best result

They were bruised and battered but Wanganui's Under 17 team made the heavyweights respect them, with two narrow losses on the final day New Zealand Age Group Championships yesterday.

The surprise package in Hastings to have made Thursday's playoffs after thrilling victories the day before against North Harbour and Taranaki, Wanganui narrowly lost their semifinal with Christchurch 37-35.

Christchurch beat Auckland 1 in the final by six goals, meaning only Wanganui came close to toppling them all week.

Wanganui then played Auckland 2 in the playoff for third and coach Lisa Murphy was fuming at the big city team's tactics, who just held on in the last minute 24-23. "The girls did so well, it was a physical game. It was horrible.

"The girls just carried on playing even though they got bumped around."

Nonetheless, the coach was justifiably proud of Wanganui's "absolutely wonderful" effort over the week the team's fourth finish the best ever result.

To offer comparison, Murphy selected her squad of 12 from the 14 players who trialled Auckland picked their two teams from over 400 girls.

Playing against a faster, more physical style than they regularly encounter, she said they were feeling the toll every quarter.

"But they handled it. I played the same seven because they were going so well I didn't want to make changes, and that's no reflection on my bench."

Both goal shoot Sammy Murphy and wing attack Rachael Horrocks were rewarded by being named in the tournament team which recognises emerging players.

About half of this year's team came out of the successful Under 15 Wanganui side of last year, so Murphy will be able to call on them again in 2014.