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National Netball League (NNL) Celebration Box Netball NZ Under 18 Champs

A new winner was celebrated when the NNL made a welcome return in 2021 as New Zealand’s brightest young talent once again were able to highlight the value of this integral pathway.

After two false starts, the 2020 NNL was finally cancelled due to ongoing issues associated with COVID-19, the six teams and associated management personnel relishing a restart this year and being back on court after such a long hiatus.

The presence of the NNL is fundamental to strengthening NNZ’s pathway, the teams having a close link with their senior ANZ Premiership sides. That proved to be a decisive factor in how the season played out during 2021.

In providing a win-win situation for both parties, teams are able to name up to two ANZ Premiership players on their matchday list: those who are not getting a lot of court time at the top level, alongside the emerging players from their Zone.

The Northern Marvels, Northern Comets, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Central Manawa, Mainland and Southern Blast competed in a 13-week round-robin competition. This included a total of 25 matches, seven of which were televised live on Sky Sport 3, culminating in the Grand Final held on 4 July at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.

With the constant threat of COVID-19 never far away, the final match of the round robin between Manawa and Mainland was cancelled on 27 June due to a rise in pandemic alert levels in Wellington. The points were shared, with the outcome having no bearing on the Grand Final make-up.

Arriving at the Grand Final by different routes, cross-town rivals the Northern Comets and Northern Marvels ensured a new name would appear on the trophy with Manawa and the Blast being the only other teams to have won the title since the inception of the league in 2016.

After setting the pace throughout the season, the Comets won their spot in the Grand Final on the back of a near-perfect record. A draw with Manawa was the closest they came to losing during their 11 matches. That included two wins over the Marvels, who remained undeterred having built steadily on their form throughout the season.

Called up as cover for The Good Oil Tactix and going on to make her debut in the ANZ Premiership, promising lanky schoolgirl shooter Amelia Walmsley, together with experienced midcourters Nadia Loveday and Chonaire Huriwai and defender Nanise Waqaira provided the impetus for the Comets, during the season.

That was matched by their near neighbours, who had the services of ANZ Premiership players Saviour Tui (shooter) and midcourters Dani Gray and Claire O’Brien in their mix, as well as the experienced Braxton Te Riini (shooter).

A tight first half left the teams all square at half-time before the Marvels made their move to set up a commanding fourth quarter and open up a matchwinning lead.

Tui was the individual standout after slotting 54 goals from 56 attempts while she and Te Riini, both previous winners with Manawa, had the distinction of pocketing titles with the Marvels as well.

It was a fitting celebration for the Northern Zone with the two teams making the Grand Final for the first time, both showcasing their depth of talent in being able to produce strong impact off the bench.

The NNL continues to provide the perfect launching pad for Netball’s rising young talent, who get to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite while immersed in a semi-professional environment. This experience and preparation are priceless as a deeper and more diverse pool of talent continues to emerge.

Attracting 38 teams, Auckland 1 claimed a slice of history after winning the inaugural Celebration Box Netball NZ U18 Champs held in Rotorua in July.

Auckland 1 beat Wellington A Black 25-26 in the final to be the first winners of the Margaret Forsyth Cup.

Honouring the former Silver Ferns great, who passed away earlier this year, the Margaret Forsyth Cup was presented for the first time by Margaret’s mother, Vera Forsyth, her son, Thomas Nabbs, and friend and Silver Ferns team-mate Rhonda Wilcox.

Final Placings:

1st: Auckland 1 2nd: Wellington A Black 3rd: Hamilton City A 4th: Waitākere 2 5th: Christchurch A Red 6th: Invercargill 7th: Dunedin 8th: Waitākere 1 9th: Eastern Bay of Plenty 10th: Auckland 2 11th: Wellington B Gold 12th: Eastern Waikato 13th: Tauranga 14th: Christchurch B Black 15th: Hutt Valley 16th: Taranaki 17th: Hamilton City B 18th: Manawatū B White 19th: Howick Pakuranga 20th: Whanganui 21st: Whangārei 22nd: South Canterbury 23rd: North Harbour 24th: Selwyn 25th: Hawke’s Bay 26th: Manawatū A Green 27th: Pukekohe 28th: Papakura 29th: Taupō 30th: Wakatipu 31st: Thames Valley 32nd: Kapi-Mana 33rd: Rotorua 34th: Te Awamutu 35th: Te Waipounamu 36th: North Canterbury 37th: Nelson 38th: Invitational