Thursday – A Stormy Start
The day began bright and early with energy buzzing. Two wins under our belt had us ready for the last game, but a crack-and-boom storm rolled in, forcing all games from 3:40 pm onward to be abandoned. We packed up and focused on recovery.
Friday – Back in Action
Games resumed as per the original draw, with abandoned matches recorded as draws.
- Game 1: Faced Columba – a polished team – and took our first loss.
- Game 2: A nail-biter against hometown school Ngā Taiatea, narrowly losing by 1
point! - Game 3: Against Tauhara (first-time Nationals attendees), we rested a couple of players and secured a solid win, lifting spirits and earning a spot in the Top 16. Our Top 8 game was against past champions Trident. A narrow loss pushed us into the bottom 8 bracket, but the fight continued.
Saturday & Sunday – Every Point Counts
Saturday brought two heartbreaking 1-point losses.
Sunday started with a chance to finish 13th/14th, but again, a 1-point loss kept us battling. Our final game was a thriller! We aimed to play all 16 girls, but the opposition resisted. Two courageous players stood down to let others shine. The game went back and forth, the box was heated, supporters were screaming—but a last-minute try from the opposition sealed another 1-point loss.
Final Results
- Placement: 16th out of 28 teams
- TOP 16
- Record: 3 wins | 1 draw | 7 losses (11 games total)
We are incredibly proud of our team’s commitment from January to December. SHGC has truly made a name for itself in the sport!
Special Recognition
Riki Enosa – Voted Coach of the Year by our players and awarded the Bunnings Award 2025, taking home a $500 Bunnings Voucher!
Looking Ahead
Plans for the 2026 campaign are already underway. Wherever Nationals are held, SHGC will be there!