Australian netballers visit for exciting contest

Ōtorohanga College netballers were treated to something different in the last week of term two.

They took to the court against teams from Melbourne’s Gezzano FCJ College in two exciting netball contests.

The trans-Tasman encounters, which began in 2014, and continued in 2016 and 2018, provide an exciting and welcome challenge for local netballers.

Gezzano College brought three teams to New Zealand: a senior A girls’ side which played Hamilton Girls’ High School in Hamilton; a senior B girls’ team, which faced the Ōtorohanga senior girls; and  a development team that took on the Ōtorohanga College development girls’ side.

Teacher in charge of netball at Ōtorohanga College Karen Flay said it was a great afternoon of netball.

“Our girls had a blast, and it was great to have them back over here playing against us. It’s always a good challenge and a perfect way for our girls to experience a different style of netball.”

It’s a partnership that has come about through Gezzano FCJ College teacher Sarndra Kennerley who has connections to Ōtorohanga through her auntie Majorie Carr, patron of the Ōtorohanga Netball Centre.

Often the Australians stay for the night and are put up in a local marae, but this year there were too many of them, so it was only a day trip.

“They had about 40 girls this year and it was too many for us to host. We thought Covid might have ruined the exchange but fortunately they were given the all-clear to travel here to New Zealand and it’s fantastic facing them again.

“For some of our girls, this might be the only chance they get to face a team from Australia so it’s exciting to see them in action. It creates memories.”

Flay said the Australian team played a different style of netball.

“They play that typical man-on and in-your-face type of defence and that is a lot different to our style here in New Zealand, so playing against that is a good challenge for the girls and a chance for them to adapt. They handled it really well. Our short passing went well and challenged them.”

The Ōtorohanga College senior A team managed a hard earned 22-15 victory, while the development side were beaten.

Flay said Ōtorohanga College hoped to send a couple of teams to Australia in the future.

“We are looking at possibly taking a team or two over there hopefully next year or in the future to give our netballers that Australian experience and keep the relationship between the two schools going.”

She said senior A netballers would now shift their focus to UNISS, their biggest tournament each year.

“We will be working hard for that and have a few goals we’re hoping to achieve at UNISS. It’s in Hamilton and is always a good challenge for us.”

Ōtorohanga College defenders Angel Greener and Aviva Mudge try and stop a Gezzano FCJ shooter from scoring, while wing defence Kaleigha Ashleigh looks on.

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