The Wanganui Under 17 team still smiling in Canterbury yesterday.
It has been a tournament as emotionally gruelling as it was physical, but the Wanganui Under 17 team finished unbowed at the Age Group Netball Championships in Rangiora yesterday.
While the normally unsatisfying 23rd placing mirrors last year, the team had to rise above a crippling illness and injury toll,
plus the emotional distress of the death of the uncle of player Kerwyn Morgan at the start of the week.
Morgan flew home yesterday as Wanganui went on with barely seven serviceable players after the goal keep Catherine Nauga had a suspected broken leg, with Britney Rauangi flying in to join the side.
Croaky coach Parekura Muraahi, who by yesterday had caught the dreaded lurgi which laid four squad members flat in Canterbury, watched them narrowly lose their morning playoff with Nelson 37-30, with only six players available.
They were back to seven as vice-captain Lisa Lin dragged herself out of bed for the last game just two hours later with Whangarei to decide 23rd-24th.
