Photo Credit - TACKLD

Story courtesy of College Sport Media.

The RSSL netball competition represents the pinnacle of secondary school netball in Wellington. This year’s final brings together two schools with different histories in this competition and contrasting motivations to win. Recent encounters between the two finalists suggest this year’s title-decider should be a close-run thing.

Over the past week, St Mary’s and Queen Margaret College have met twice. This was both in the shortened format CSW day tournament and the final RSSL round-robin games (in what was a battle of the league’s unbeaten teams). With both games, St Mary’s were able to come from behind and to win by a single point.  

The two schools played the RSSL premier final in 2022. For St Mary’s, the win was another successful night in what has been close to a decade of dominance in this competition. While for QMC, that was the only time they made the final.

In the 2022 final, QMC went into the first quarter break with a slender lead. They were subsequently outdone by a rampant St Mary’s team, who went on to win 39-27.

With last year’s final, St Mary’s were down 31-23 at the end of the third quarter to a Tawa College team stacked with finesse. Even then they still came back to secure an extra time win and their ninth consecutive RSSL title.

St Mary’s captain is Year 12 student, Fo’i Lemana, who was part of the squad that beat QMC in 2022. Fo’I discussed her school’s record. “it’s about trusting each other and trusting ourselves individually, this allows us to focus on our own jobs.”  She believes her team plays with an intensity that they can keep this going for the full 40 minutes.

For St Mary’s, the legacy brings pressures, but it also provides motivation. Fo’i admits finals night creates nerves. To cope she likes to keep things simple. Staying in the moment and playing the game quarter by quarter. Her school normally comes out in numbers to support the team. The fabled noise that the St Mary’s spectators generate provides the “eighth player” effect that helps buoy the team.

Fo’i playing Goal Defence will be competing with QMC’s Goal Attack, Brook Tongia.

Year 13 student, Brook was part of QMC’s squad in the 2022 final. In discussing the difference between now and then, Brook feels there’s more confidence going into this year’s final. It was all new to the team in 2022. Making the final, was its own achievement. Consistent exposure to higher leagues over recent seasons has seen the school’s competitiveness in the RSSL grow.

Brook is part of a trio of year 13s, who QMC’s coach Fran Scholey describes as being vital to her team. With five members of last year’s Premier team finishing school, this season has had a rebuilding theme. The knowledge and experience the senior players offer and share has been invaluable. This has allowed good continuity with bringing young players into the squad.

Fran has wanted to build a culture that stems from the legacy of past teams. When asked about her team’s strengths, she points to the ability to win the ball across the court. However, she has also been delighted with how the team has gelled off-court with setting goals and refreshing objectives throughout the season.

Both Fran and Brook agree that a rise is needed if they are to beat St Mary’s. The two recent match-ups have isolated the adjustments they require if they are to be competitive in the final.

Fo’i credits QMC’s fast paced game. She knows she leads a young team and that her attackers will need support to take on QMC’s defence. Having been in the team from Year 9, Fo’I recognises that former teammates helped her development, and she is now taking on a similar role.

For QMC, the netball final is part of a special year of sport. Their football team has made the Capital Football Trophy (premier girls) final for the first time. Their hockey and basketball teams are also contesting semi-finals. If the Queens can rally their supporters, we should be in for a special night of school’s netball.

The RSSL is a competition that is played on Monday nights over seven rounds and then with the teams being paired for a finals’ night. Schools are split into three divisions, with seedings allocated according to how teams are placed in the separate regional competitions they play. Most schools play in adult leagues on Saturday mornings.

This year’s RSSL finals are on the evening of Monday 18 August at the Ākau Tangi Sports Centre. All teams get to play on the night.

The main finals for each division are as follows:

• RSSL Division 1 – St Mary’s v Queen Margaret College
• RSSL Division 2 – Scots College v Hutt Valley High Schools
• RSSL Division 3 – Wainuiomata High School v Naenae College

A special mention goes to Scots College, who because of their seeding from the Wellington adult leagues missed out on qualifying for RSSL division one. They showed their quality in the recent CSW tournament beating St Mary’s in the final after having also drawn with Queen Margaret College in group-play. Their netball programme is on the rise, and they are likely to be a force in Division 1, next year.   

Article added: Wednesday 13 August 2025