It was a tough opening day for St Hilda's Collegiate at the secondary schools national championships yesterday.
Attending the tournament for the first time, the school was beaten in its first two games against Palmerston North Girls' High School and St Kentigern College.
A horror start to the fourth quarter resulted in St Hilda's giving up a four-goal lead in its 43-42 loss to Palmerston North Girls'.
The North Island side scored seven goals to St Hilda's one, before St Hilda's was able to score. It was not enough to keep Palmerston North Girls' out though, as it shot a perfect 12/12 in the fourth quarter, part of an impressive 43/45 for the game, to claim the win.
Earlier, St Hilda's had shot out to a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, before Palmerston North Girls' slowly clawed its way back through the two middle quarters. Centre Kate Heffernan was active in making seven deflections, including four in the first quarter, and four intercepts.
In the second game, St Hilda's was well-beaten 49-26 by St Kentigern College.
