After a huge week of Netball for all of our teams, they have come to the pointy end of the tournament – finals day!

Obviously, much of the hype on Thursday was news of Napier Girls High School, for the very first time making it all the way to the finals, after a nail biting win against St Mary’s Wellington.  We can see from the previous winner’s list posted on the Lower North Island Facebook page that in fact no other Hawke’s Bay team has won this tournament since its inception in 1999.  Manukura on the other hand who are Napier’s opponents in the final have their name etched for the previous three years straight.  This final will take place at 2.30pm at the ASB Sports Centre in Wellington and we are looking forward to seeing some great netball action.

All other teams in A Grade have also managed to keep out of the bottom four keeping themselves safe from relegation as the bottom three teams go down to B Grade for 2020. Finals are as follows from 32 teams in A Grade:

8.30am - Wairoa College vs Woodford House – 27^th/28^thposition

9.30am – Havelock North vs Hutt Valley - 23^rd/24^thposition

10.30am – Hastings Girls vs Wairarapa College – 19^th/20^th position

2.30pm – Napier Girls High School vs Manukura – 1^st/2^ndposition

In B Grade Central Hawke’s Bay have been the stand out, getting all the way to Semi-Finals unbeaten.  Unfortunately, they went down to St Peters College by just three goals 32 – 29.  Although they might be out of the grand finale, they still do have an opportunity to qualify for A Grade in 2020, by winning the 3^rd/4^thplay off against Porirua College.  Finals for B Grade are as follows from 28 teams:

8.30am - Ahuriri William Colenso vs Taranaki Diocesan - 25th - 28th posiion

10.30am – Taradale High School vs Taita College – 15^th/16^thposition

11.30am – Iona vs Naenae College – 11^th/12^thposition

12.30pm – Sacred Heart College vs Chilton St James – 5^th/6^thposition

12.30pm – Central Hawke’s Bay College vs Porirua College – 3^rd/4^thposition

All the best to all the teams in finals, and safe travels back to the Bay!

Article added: Thursday 05 September 2019