On Sunday 19th June, the Columba 9A and 10A netball teams travelled to Timaru to take part in the annual Roncalli College Junior Development Tournament. Always a timely tournament in preparation for the South Island Secondary Schools Netball Championships in July, this day of competition proved invaluable as our teams prepare for the big stage in Christchurch!

An early departure before sunrise on Sunday morning for the 9A and 10A netball teams was required to ensure teams got to Timaru in time for round one of the Roncalli Tournament. Held at the South Canterbury Netball Courts (Aorangi Stadium), school teams from Dunedin, North Otago and South Canterbury competed against each other over the course of the day providing valuable tournament experience for our junior teams.    

The 10A netball team had a positive tournament, growing in confidence, team unity, and game play. Some very narrow losses to the eventual tournament winners and runner up place getters, the 10As played strongly throughout the day and finished off with an encouraging win against Craighead College B. 

The teams' results were as follows;

Columba 10A  7 - 8  Ashburton (runners up) 

Columba 10A  2 - 13  Craighead A (tournament winners) 

Columba 10A  7 - 12  Timaru Girls

Columba 10A  8 - 12  Geraldine High School

Columba 10A  14 - 8  Craighead B

Well done,10A. This was a fitting way to end a day of development and team extension. Team progress over recent weeks has been encouraging. Keep up the hard work! 

The Columba 9A netball team had a super day in Timaru coming away as tournament winners of the 9A grade! There was great team effort shown across the board, with reports highlighting the strong efforts of Lula Joseph who was learning a new position and taking on feedback well, solid WA play from Meg Adams, critical defensive play and turnover ball achieved by Kiana Brown and Abigail Kotkamp, and Shanti Kara finishing off well in the shooting circle. Well done Team 9A, we are extremely proud of your achievement!

Results were as follows;

Columba 9A  14 - 3  Ashburton College 

Columba 9A  15 - 6  Geraldine High School 

Columba 9A  12 - 4  Craighead College

Columba 9A  10 - 4  Roncalli College

Columba 9A  9 - 8  St. Hilda's Collegiate 

We wish both our 9A and 10A team all the very best as they continue to prepare for the SISS Champs in Christchurch. Without doubt, this was a highlight on the competition calendar. We are certain that both teams will do Columba College proud!