New goal for Rodney netball squads

Rodney’s college netball teams have a new goal to shoot for with the introduction of the Rodney District Secondary Challenge.

The Challenge, which began this season, provides an opportunity for talented players, coaches and officials to be spotted by regional selectors as well as lifting the standard of play in the district.

Already the competition has resulted in a team being selected to enter in the Netball North Harbour under 17 Tournament this month.

Hibiscus Coast Netball Centre president Kirsten Hayes says all colleges in the district were invited to take part in the Challenge, and took up the opportunity with the exception of Orewa College whose players already had a full playing programme.

Regional body Netball North, together with Netball Centres on the Hibiscus Coast, Rodney and Kaipara initiated the challenge and games were held in all three centres.

Competition involved eight weeks of round robin games between top collegiate players in Years 9–13. The final and prizegiving were in Wellsford on June 29.

“This challenge has expanded on established relationships between schools and Netball Centres,” Kirsten says. “It can only develop and strengthen the game of netball in Rodney.”

Whangaparaoa College 3 defends a Rodney College goal in the Rodney District Secondary Challenge at Edith Hopper Reserve. Whangaparaoa won this close game, 23-22.