Netball: Rotorua Girls take down Kahukura Red

Despite having several first-choice players unavailable, Rotorua Girls High School have produced a spirited 44-41 win over Kahukura Red in Premier 1.

With some of the Rotorua Girls players away preparing for kapa haka nationals, some of the school's junior players - one only 13 years old - had to step up on Saturday, and they more than held their own.

It looked like it would be a close contest from the outset and Kahukura held a 12-11 lead after the first quarter.

The Kahukura defenders worked well together and made it hard for their opposition to get the ball into the shooting circle. Rotorua Girls fell behind early in the quarter as they rushed things a little, but once they were more patient with ball in hand they got back in the game and led 24-23 at halftime.

The third quarter was the winning of the game for Rotorua Girls. They made several positional changes and it paid off as they raced out to a 36-28 lead.

Kahukura fought back and actually won the final quarter, but it was not enough to make up the deficit in what was a highly entertaining game.

Rotorua Girls coach Carol Holt was proud of the her young side's efforts.

"I thought the girls played really well. We were using girls from the junior prems and senior B and I was really pleased with how the girls who are in the team played with the girls who are new.

"It is about bringing them up too, they play well in their own teams so it's nice to see them playing at this level. I must commend Taryn [Stone] my goal attack. She's the captain and she works hard - she does a lot of work in that leadership role making sure the team is in the right place," Holt said.

Rotorua Netball Results
Senior Championship
Premier 1
Murupara Stingers 39 v Marist Magic 38; RGHS Prem 1 44 v Kahukura Red 41; Mitchell Downs 50 v Waikite Panthers 46.

Premier 2
Pikiao Warriors 47 v Eastside Gurls 1 44; Marist Rebels DWn v Whaka Black DLs; Tuhoe 48 v Ngongotaha Gold 32.

Senior A
Pikiao Raiders 62 v Rotoiti Gold 46; Manawatahi Taiohi 51 v Reporoa Rangers 49; Kahukura White 77 v Waikite Flamez 45.

A Grade
Marist Inferno 64 v Ngongotaha Hapori 35; Kahukura Blue 52 v Ngati Kea Ngati Tuara 27; Waikite Social 34 v Manawatahi Black 34.

Senior B
KTTTOF GIRLS 44 v Marist Souls 18; Eastside Gurls 2 45 v Hinemoa Point 34; Vegas Lady Bugs 39 v The Chix 30; KTTTOF GIRLS 36 v Hinemoa Point 34; Eastside Gurls 2 38 v Marist Souls 25; Mana 31 v The Chix 25.

Secondary School
Collegiate A
WHHS Jnr A 25 v JPC Coll Y10 Black 16; RLHS Jun A 29 v RGHS Jnr A 13; Rotoiti Juniors Y9&10 31 v JPC Coll Y9 Maroon 26.

Collegiate B
RIN Taonga 27 v Kahukura Jun Red 13; RLHS Jnr Gold 23 v Rep Coll Y9&10 14; WHHS Jun Dev 23 v RGHS Jnr Maroons 21.

Collegiate C
JPC Coll Y9 Yellow 24 v JPC Coll Y10 Blue 17; Tawhiuau Tirotiro Y9&10 21 v Kahukura Jnr White 18; WHHS Y9&10 Gold 32 v RLHS Jnr Blue 8.

Collegiate D
WHHS Y9 Blue 43 v JPC Coll Y9 Orange 5; RGHS Jnr Blue 29 v WHHS Y9&10 Violet 11.

Open Sec A
JPC Coll Sen A 27 v Ngongotaha Pirahnaz 25; JPC Coll Y10 White DWn v Murupara AS Y11-13 DLs; RGHS Jnr Prems 50 v RLHS Sen A 24.

Open Sec B
RGHS Prem 2 29 v WHHS Sen Dev 18; WHHS Sen A 27 v Nga Wharekura o Rotorua Y11-13 25; Huiarau Tukana Y11-13 DWn v Rep Coll Sen A DLs.

Open Sec C
WHHS Sen B 17 v Rep Coll Sen Deve 14; Kahukura Snr Blue 18 v JPC Coll Sen Devel 10; RLHS Sen Devel 29 v WHHS Sen Blue 16.