Girls Touch Rugby finish 5th at Secondary School Nationals

Playing at Home in Palmerston North, the Freyberg Senior Girls Touch team, played 10 games in three days to finish 5th overall at the National Secondary Schools touch rugby competition, with two players selected in the tournament team.

Day 1
On Friday 10th December the Freyberg Senior Girls Touch Team played four grading games at Ongley Park winning their pool with 3 wins and a draw and proceeding to the next round.

Day 2
Playing against the top eight schools in the country, the girls struggled to maintain their game plan on the second day, resulting in 2 losses, a draw, and a win. This placed them in the playoffs for 5th to 8th.

Day 3
Playing against Christchurch Girls High School, in a previous tournament saw Freyberg win the pool games, but lose in the play offs. Drawing CGHS in the playoffs was a challenge which the girls overcame advancing to the 5th and 6th place playoffs against Mt Albert Grammar. It was a close and hard game, with the score tied at full time. Freyberg managed to score first in extra time with a player dropping off every minute. Mt Albert Grammar were given the ball for a chance to even up the score, but Freyberg's defence held firm. With several plays 'dropped off' Freyberg won the game 6-5 to finish 5th best in the country.

Freya Newton (pictured right) and Tori Ratima were selected for the Secondary Schools Girls Tournament Team for their outstanding play during the tournament.

Farewells go to Freya Newton, Micheala Hemapo, Marlin Tangaroa, Sophie Kereama, Renee Van Nistleroy and Renee Lofts. After four years in the senior team, they will be sadly missed.

Thanks go to the coach, Paul Newton, manager, Jan McPherson, and the cooks, Janine Kereama, Grace McPherson-Newton and Ezra. Also thanks to the staff at The Flat for the accommodation.Thanks also to those who came down to support the girls, your presence was noticed and all the cheering helped to lift the team.

Te-Ana Waihi - Teacher in charge

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