Christchurch Girls High School qualified for New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) courtesy of winning the South Island Secondary Schools competition. They will be in Pool C with their opening game against St Marys College on Tuesday 9^th October at Time 9:30am. Live scoring is available. We caught up with Co-coach Rosie Stewart ahead of a big week of netball for her team. 

CNC: The netball season has been over for a few weeks now. What have you done to prepare for NZSS? 

RS: We are very conscious to maintain the same level of intensity in both games and trainings that we had leading up to south islands. It has been a bit tricky with the girls having mock exams and maintaining momentum, but I think we have managed well!  

CNC: Have any of your team experienced NZSS or a tournament like this before? 

RS: Luckily enough of the 11 members of the team, 8 have been to nationals before playing last year, 3 of the girls playing in their 3^rd nationals 

CNC: What teams will you be facing in your opening pool games? 

RS: We will be playing St Marys first up who came fourth in the Lower North Secondary Schools Competition. We then play St Peter’s School Cambridge came 2^nd in the Upper North competition. Our last game of the pool is against fellow Christchurch team St Margaret’s which is always going to be a tough battle. 

CNC: Who do expect to be the hardest opposition (pool round) and why? 

RS: From a seeding point a view St Peter’s look to be tough. In tournament netball, as we experienced at South Islands, any team on their day are tough so we will be treating every game like a final. We have had multiple physical battles with St Margaret’s this year who are a dangerous team to play on a good day which will definitely be the most mental game of the pool. 

CNC: What do you think will be the biggest challenge during the Tournament? 

RS: For coaches we would love to see our team play at the potential we know they can play! We have only seen a handful of games this year where we have given a full 40minute team performance and we would love to end the season seeing a performance like that again. Our biggest challenge, which we have been striving all year to find, is how to put that performance on court! 

CNC: Describe your team in three words ... 

RS: Part-time rappers. (Anyone who has seen our girls warm up will understand this!)

Many thanks Rosie and good luck to you, your management and players at NZSS! 

Players: 

Charlotte Knight (C)
Shana Ali (VC)
Emma Hartnell
Helen OConnell
Olivia McIntrye 
Harriet Willis
Bella Lista 
Kati Cox Winiata 
Amber Houston 
Kate Hastings
Evie Croft 

Captain: Charlotte Knight 
Coach: Georgia McRae and Rosie Stewart
Manager: Robin Brown

Article added: Tuesday 24 September 2019