Rugby: National trials for four Hastings Girls High players

POWERFUL CARRY: Hastings Girls High School's Emmaleigh Oli on the charge during her team's final against Gisborne Girls High School. Photo/Warren Buckland

Four Hastings Girls High School rugby players have been selected to trial for the New Zealand Under-17 Sevens team in Palmerston North in October.

Te Aira Te Pou, Olioli Mua, Tuia Edwards and Liana Mikaele-Tu'u were selected after their team lost 19-15 to Gisborne Girls High School in last week's Hawke's Bay Secondary Schoolgirls final in Hastings.

Their selections were the ideal form of consolation for the loss but making the final was a tremendous feat for the school which played in the competition for the first time in at least 15 years.

As the score suggests it was an entertaining final and an appropriate finale to the eight-week, six-team competition which involved teams from Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay.

Both teams scored three tries but the boot of Gisborne first five-eighth Renee Holmes proved the difference as she kicked two conversions.

Gisborne had a solid forward pack and a speedy backline while Hastings boasted a couple of experienced backs behind a formidable forward pack.

The two teams which contested the final were joined by Napier Girls High School, Wairoa College, Karamu High School and Ahuriri, a combination of Tamatea High School and William Colenso College players.

Players in all six teams need to be commended for their commitment, courage and role modelling to younger girls.

They produced a high standard of play and showcased the pathway which exists through the competition to Hawke's Bay representation, North Island and New Zealand honours.

Players in the competition are inspired by dreams of attending the Olympics, playing for their favourite club or alongside whanau and friends.

The following HGHS players were selected for the Hawke's Bay South team which took on North in Napier yesterday and they have also been invited to attend a Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union training camp: Te Aira Te Pou, Olioli Mua, Ashley Palu, Parris Greening, Kirstyrae Sciascia, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Lydia Puriri, Tuia Edwards, Tarita Aiolupotea, Hendrika Whiu.

Scorers:
Gisborne Girls High School 19 (Azalleyah Maaka 2, Renee Holmes tries; Holmes 2 cons), Hastings Girls High School 15 (Olioli Mua, Ashley Palu, Emmaleigh Oli tries).