Netballers meet their hero

Two netball teams from Rodney College participated in the annual Upper North Island Secondary Schools tournament (UNISS), held on Auckland’s North Shore during the first week of September. 

Hosted by Netball North, the event saw more than 100 secondary school teams competing over five hectic days of blood, sweat, tantrums and tears.

A regional qualifying tournament that sees the four top teams go on to compete in the Netball New Zealand Secondary Schools Event held in October each year, players also have the opportunity to be selected for the NZ Netball Talent Identification Camp.

Umpires also have the chance to gain higher qualifications through assessment during the five days of white-hot competition.

The Silver Ferns squad also made an appearance during the week, mixing with players, coaches and officials. Pictured above, Rodney College players Courtney Brierly and Rebecca Simmonds took a brief time-out with Silver Ferns goal shooting legend Irene van Dyk.

Rodney College’s Team 1 Netball had a relatively successful tournament finishing second in their pool.