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The cancellation of both the Upper North Island Secondary Schools (UNISS) and AIMS Games inter-school tournaments, for the second year in a row, has disappointed a lot of school sports teams.
However, Whangaparāoa College is taking comfort from the success of its top Year 9 netball team, which this year reached the Netball North Harbour Year 9 final.
Players include Jess Washer, a North Harbour representative player who was also set to go to UNISS with the college’s Premier senior team. Next year, she is expected to join the Premier team as shooter.
The Year 9 team also has a male goal keep, Aaron Canty. This is the first season that boys have been allowed to play at North Harbour Netball. They can play in all grades up to premier level. Only three are allowed per team.
The college’s director of sport, Joe Duffett, says the move is part of growing the game and pushing for inclusion of netball in the Olympics.
He says Aaron is a talented athlete who also plays in the college’s joint rugby team with Ōrewa College that was undefeated this season.
Getting into the Year 9 netball final meant rising to the top of more than 70 teams.
The final, v Westlake Girls, was to be played last week, but is on hold and now looks unlikely to take place, due to Level 4 lockdown.
