Providing a grandstand finish to the event, Auckland pipped Waitākere 45-44 to win a thrilling overtime final at the Netball New Zealand U18 Champs at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin last Thursday.

Needing extra-time to decide the winner, the match had everything you could ask for in a final with no more than three goals separating the cross-town rivals before the pair finished all-square at 40-all at the end of regular time in the 40-minute match.

"Both teams had a sending off, there were warnings and there were lots of substitutions, so everything you needed in a final, it had it in this match,’’ Netball NZ Emerging Talent Panel selector Debbie Tasi-Cordtz said. "It was a fantastic match.’’

It is the second time Auckland have had their name etched on the Margaret Forsyth Cup, named in memory of the former Silver Ferns great, after being the inaugural winners in 2021.

The Rachel Rasmussen-coached Auckland team ended the stalemate by scoring the winning goal in the nick of time when the buzzer sounded at the conclusion of the two periods of three minutes of extra-time. It had been 42-all after the first period of extra-time.

Changing and rotating players was key throughout the tense and tight match, none proving more valuable than Auckland’s versatile Lillian Henare-Vaihu, who started at centre before moving to goal defence while being an energetic contributor across the court.

"Having the tournament inside has been a godsend because it has just allowed them to play netball rather than play to the conditions,’’ Tasi-Cordtz said.

"So, to be able to see our top netballers indoors for four days in a tournament like this with scores like we had in the final reflecting that, it just shows how good it was.

"Everyone looked really conditioned and it was a very positive tournament. I think we’re in good hands with netball in New Zealand if that’s the calibre of players coming through. You wouldn’t believe some of them are under-18, so it’s pretty pleasing.’’

[article from Netball New Zealand]

Article added: Saturday 27 July 2024