BACKThe Premier Netball team completed an undefeated season by winning the North Harbour Premier title in a closely contested final against Carmel.
The team earned their place in the final after a clear 28-goal victory over Long Bay in the semi-final. That win set up the championship match against Carmel, a school with a traditionally strong netball programme.
Carmel built momentum in the first half of the final, establishing a nine-goal lead with 13 minutes remaining in the match. The team responded in the closing stretch, adjusting defensively to steadily reduce the margin and take a three-goal lead with two minutes to play. Carmel cut the lead back to a single goal with 15 seconds left on the clock. Under tight pressure, Carmel threw the ball out over the baseline, allowing the team to secure the one-goal victory as time expired.
The championship win was a collective effort from all 11 players on the squad. Our standout player of the match was Captain Jezariah Tere Mataora (Jezariah) Holmes, who kept a cool head and led by example to get the team back into the game. The match also marked the final North Harbour school appearance for Year 13 departees Jezariah Holmes, Grace Giles, and Ryen Anderson.
Our Premier team also competed in the Waitakere Premier Competition, battling consistently each week to finish third overall.
In the 3rd and 4th play-off against Waitakere, who had beaten us by 14 goals earlier in the season, the team showed great grit and composure to pull off another tight one-goal victory, securing the bronze medal.
Thanks go to Head Coach Jamie Sowter, Assistant Coach Teresa Russell, and Manager Kelly O’Dea, as well as Waitakere competition Assistant Coach Charlotte Nicol and Manager Michelle Buckley, for their leadership and support throughout the season.
