So another season has come to a close, well sort of. As I type the Netball South Year 7 and Year 8 Festival Day is still going ahead on the 23rd September which will include our SGHS 7A and 8A teams. But for the rest of us, we can hang up our netball shoes until next year.
And what a different season it has been for us all – one we didn’t think would ever get underway, but thanks to some late night planning sessions from the team at INC, we finally got a competition start date. The delayed start to the season meant South Island tournaments were cancelled and regional tournaments organised in their place. As a school community we did what we do best, adapted to the changes and got on with playing netball.
The Saturday competition started on the 20th June with SGHS entering 25 teams across both Open and Secondary Schools grades. With trials held back in February for the seniors, there were some really excited netballers taking the court, especially the younger students who had waited so patiently for their first game.
A revised competition structure meant only two weeks from grading games to the competition beginning. Both our Senior A and B teams were entered into the Premier grade, a step up for our Senior B’s and one they relished and learnt some valuable lessons from for next year. Teams across all the grades achieved some fantastic results, and the arrival of finals week saw SGHS with 13 teams in the Top 4 spots, and 8 teams playing off for either 1st or 2nd.
Congratulations to the following teams and coaches who won their grades:
| Team | Grade | Coaches |
| 7A | Year 7/9 Grade 2 | Pippa O’Connell & Breea Scully |
| 9 Gold | Secondary School Grade 2 | Holly McNaught & Libby Haywood |
| 10B | 4th Grade | Emilia Dermody & Georgia McKenzie |
| Falcons | 3rd Grade | Kathryn Voice-Templeton |
| Senior A | Premier Grade | Jess Huia & Laura Overton |
Congratulations also to the following teams and coaches who were runners up in their grade:
| Team | Grade | Coaches |
| 8B | Year 7/8 Grade 2 | Farah Heaps & Taylor Alty |
| 10 Stars | Secondary Schools Grade 3 | Charlotte Cean & Milly McLeod |
| 10 Opals | Secondary Schools Grade 5 | Maxine Raynes & Bridget Jennings |
The Senior A team had very little down time with the focus for them switching straight away to the Otago/ Southland Secondary Schools tournament starting the following day. They carried on with their winning form achieving another 6 wins in a row including an epic 1 point win over Columba College on Day 2. With a spot in the final booked against St Hilda’s Collegiate, the girls played incredibly well and were runners up to St Hilda’s who won the game. A wonderful result to achieve 2nd place out of 32 teams, and some tired legs after a total of 9 games over six days.
This past weekend it was the turn of our Junior teams, 9A and 10A to play in the Otago/Southland Secondary School tournament in Dunedin. The competition structure meant the girls had to win the first 3-4 games of the tournament to ensure the chance to play off for the top 6 placings.
Our 9A team played Queens High in their final and won 39-35, which placed them 5th overall.
The SGHS 10A team had booked their spot in the final, the result of an epic 1 goal win over Columba College. The girls stepped up and played incredibly well coming 2nd to St Hildas’ Collegiate.
Congratulations to both teams on your achievements, and to the coaches and management who made it all possible.
I would like to personally thank all the coaches, managers and parents who have assisted all the teams this year. Without your support, many of the teams would have struggled to get through the season, it is noticed and very much appreciated.
Rachel Smith
Teacher in Charge – Netball
