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Netballers compete against the North Island's best

St Paul's Collegiate School —

The Upper North Island Secondary Schools Tournament is always the highlight of the season for secondary school netball players. With the loss of seven players at the end of the 2018 season, St Paul’s started the week hoping to retain our position in the top 16.

After drawing with Carmel College in the first game of their pool play 32 all - it was important to secure a clear win that same afternoon. A good win against Long Bay College 54-12 raised the spirits of the girls immensely. By using all their skill sets and digging deep, St Paul’s gave it their all the following morning, to narrow the margin between One Tree Hill College and themselves to 26-32. This secured St Paul’s position in the top 16.

The team faced St Kentigern College in the new round, which was tough, but were pleased with their 11-35 loss as the St Kent’s team eventually placed number one. The highlight of the week was beating Waikato Diocesan School for Girls by two goals the next morning, who St Paul’s had lost to three out of the four times they had played them during the season. This was an important positioning game for St Paul’s, giving us the opportunity to place from 9th - 12th. This was a huge achievement, especially for the Year 13 players, to be in the same section as the previous year.

The remaining losses against Trident High School and One Tree Hill College for the second time were hard-fought. Understanding and playing to our strengths rather than our weaknesses, the St Paul’s team of eleven left North Harbour with their heads held high, and proud to say that they were all members of the 2019 St Paul’s Open A Team who finished 12th out of 128 teams.

For those Year 13s moving on, good luck for your netball careers in the big wide world, and for our up and coming netballers, every season is a new beginning which requires hard work and dedication from day one.