Tu Toa win national school title

Tu Toa turned the tables on Mt Albert Grammar School and won the national secondary schools' title for the first time in their history with a 34-33 win in Timaru yesterday.

Previously in the tournament, Mt Albert had got the better of the Palmerston North school 38-35, but they came back from nine goals down to change their fortunes when it mattered most.

Tu Toa coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said she couldn't pinpoint where the turnaround came from but would review the tape today.

"We made a few errors, it was everything a final should be. It was closely contested," she said.

"We knew it was going to be pretty tight ... They did well. They just kept in it and played some pretty courageous pieces of attack."

McCausland-Durie said Mount Albert were strong opponents who pushed them hard.

The Auckland school were runners-up last year and had the defender (Tuaine Keenan) and mid-courter (Portia Woodman) of the tournament in their lineup.

Tu Toa's Renee Matoe was named attacker of the tournament.

"I think one of the strongest things about this group is that they're a team," McCausland-Durie said, adding that good conditioning allowed them to play with high intensity all week.

Tu Toa lose five Year 13s from their squad for next season.

Palmerston North Girls' High School finished in third spot despite coach Marie Gordon suggesting it was a "rebuilding year" for her squad earlier in the season.

Girls' High beat Wellington Girls' College 38-36 in the third place play-off after downing them 28-26 in pool play.

It highlighted the improvement the team has made since Wellington Girls' beat Girls' High 41-31 in July.

The acquisition of New Zealand secondary schools shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit halfway through the year was a huge boost to Girls' High who played with a greater confidence with her on board.

Their third place play-off game went to over-time and Gordon said her side showed the right attitude when they needed to.

"Just compose and focus. We probably could've made it easier on us because we lost a bit of a lead. It was very much a game that could've gone either way."

Gordon said her team continued to get better all season.

"We are absolutely ecstactic. It's wonderful," she said of their third place effort.

"We achieved all our goals which was good."

Girls' High retain seven from their squad of 12 for next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News