Northern have been crowned the national under-23 champions in Waitakere this afternoon, in what could be the last time the tournament is held.
The Northern side, led by a brilliant defensive performance by Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, beat South 55-50 in the final after going through the tournament unbeaten. It was the third straight year the South team, featuring ANZ Championship players Storm Purvis, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Gina Crampton and Stacey Peeters have been beaten in the final.
With Netball NZ currently reviewing its competition structures ahead of the introduction of a new domestic league, this year was likely South's last opportunity to win the Under-23 crown, which is contested by the five zones.
South had the early edge in the contest, leading 14-12 at the first break after a strong start defensively. But an 18-10 second quarter blitz from Northern well and truly tipped the scales back in Northern's favour. Leading 30-24 at halftime, Northern raced out to a 10-goal lead early in the third spell as Tone-Fitzpatrick and New Zealand Secondary Schools star Holly Fowler shut down South's scoring options.
Down the other end of the court another teenage star, Maia Wilson, was in dominant form, with the South defenders struggling to stop the high ball into the circle.
