Netball: Unbeaten NGHS retain Bay title

Napier Girls' High School celebrate a second consecutive Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools premier netball title last night. Photo / Paul Taylor

Napier Girls' High School won Hawke's Bay's premier secondary schools netball title with an unbeaten run for the second consecutive year last night.

The Briar Chalmers-coached side shook off a nervous start to beat Hastings Girls' High 49-27 at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena. Hastings led 10-7 after the first quarter but Napier took the second quarter 16-5 to lead 23-15 at halftime.

Chalmers said that turn-around was the key to their victory.

"Our senior players led the way," Chalmers said, referring to New Zealand Secondary Schools midcourter Kimiora Poi and Aotearoa Secondary Schools and under-19 goal shoot Kelsey McPhee.

When regular goal attack Kaya Lord left the court with an ankle injury in the second quarter Poi switched from wing attack to goal attack. Poi played centre in the final quarter when Lord returned to the fray.

McPhee had an 88 per cent success rate as she sank 40 of her team's goals.

Chalmers said the final was the ideal rehearsal before the Lower North Island tournament campaign, where they will attempt to qualify for the nationals.

This is the school's best chance of qualifying for many seasons.

"This title was the ideal consolation for our one-goal semifinal loss to Huias in the Super 6 premier women's comp a fortnight ago. We didn't want a repeat of that," Chalmers said.

Chalmers has coached the team for the past two years and will be back again next year to attempt a three-peat. With five of this year's squad leaving at the end of the year it will be a challenge.

"They were just too good on the night. Kelsey [McPhee] was almost impossible to stop and made it tough for our defenders. We didn't have the same volume of possession as them," Hastings coach Ina Jones said.

Her goal shoot Emma Vennell finished the match with 20 goals from 22 attempts for a 91 per cent success rate.

Wing attack Terina Edwards impressed with her feeding and defender Olivia Macaulay, who played goal keep and goal defence, did not give up in her quest to try to restrict McPhee's freedom.

The playoff for third saw Taradale High School beat Karamu High School 26-22.

The plate final, which required five minutes of extra-time saw Woodford House pip Sacred Heart College 30-28. Havelock North High School edged Hukarere Girls' College 29-28 in the bowl final.