Strong performance sees Kamo in upset

Kamo High School impressed with a determined performance at the Upper North Island Secondary Schools Netball Championships in Hamilton, bettering local rivals Whangarei Girls' High School.
Last year, Kamo won the B-grade at the annual tournament featuring around 100 schools north of Taupo, and were promoted to the hotly contested top grade.
At the week-long UNISS tournament at Minogue Netball Complex, Whangarei Netball's premier reserve grade winners stamped their mark and demanded respect with their 11th place after defeating Carmel 39-37 on Friday.
The more fancied WGHS, who finished third in Whangarei's premier grade club competition, were convincingly pipped by Kamo  during pool play on Thursday, 54-46, and were left to play off for A-grade's 13th/14th spot.
They showed grit when they got past a strong Rotorua Girls' High outfit, winning 37-32, to claim  13th place from 32 teams.
It was an intense competition, with teams playing two to three 40-minute games a day.
 Whangarei Netball president Judy MacDonald said both Northland A-grade teams, up against class competition from larger and stronger netball regions, performed outstandingly.
However, it was Kamo who stole the limelight.
"It is a bit of shock upset, Kamo  [finishing] higher up than Whangarei - you could argue Kamo are only in premier reserve grade while WGHS are in premier grade - but I guess it comes down to what happens on the day," she said.
"Kamo want to be in the premier grade and I suspect they will be trying to grade in there next year."
However, they will lose Puawai Shortland, Alexis Chapman, Sam Wharerau and Holly Reti as it is their final year of school.
Meanwhile, last year's premiers, Mount Albert Grammar School were a class above their Auckland Girls' Grammar opponents in the A-grade final when they comfortably won 40-27, making their intentions clear ahead of time for their upcoming New Zealand Secondary Schools' Netball Tournament campaign, in October.
Kerikeri High School team was Northland's best in the B-grade, completing the tournament in 21st place from 32 teams, while Otamatea finished 27th and the Kaitaia College team withdrew from competition. St Pauls won the grade overall, defeating Kawerau in Friday's final.
Tuia-Broadwood had a huge tournament, claiming eighth spot in C-grade following their narrow three goal advantage over Whangaparaoa, while Dargaville were also strong, finishing 14th.
Bream Bay College were 17th, while Ruawai were 21st and Pompallier 24th. St Dominics claimed the C-grade title when they thrashed Pinehurst 38-22.