Height is right

Villa Maria College goal keep Olivia Burnham crowds the shot of Southland Girls' High School goal shoot Jessica Moreton during the South Island Secondary Schools final at the Edgar Centre yesterday.

Villa Maria won the match 39-26. It was quick to assert its dominance. The Canterbury school made good use of its clear height advantage.

Burnham's reach was an issue, while goal defence Julia Wynands' athleticism created a series of turnovers. Her passing game was top-drawer as well.

At the other end shooter Hannah Glen was proving impossible to stop. She looks a promising talent, and helped her side go to the first break ahead 8-5.

But the turning point came at the beginning of the third quarter, with Villa Maria scoring seven unanswered goals to stretch its lead to more than 10 goals.

Goal attack Holly Munro and centre Kate Hanley looked sharp in the smaller Southland Girls' side.