Otago under-18 girls win on countback after rain makes final too dangerous to play

The Otago under-18 girls side claimed a national title in remarkable circumstances in Auckland yesterday.

The team was awarded national honours at the 2018 junior national tournament without having to step out on to Montford Park in Manurewa.

Though much of the tournament was played in waterlogged conditions, the final was called off when heavy rain flooded the ground and made it too unsafe for play.

Otago was to play Waikato in the final, but a countback system awarded the unbeaten Otago side the under-18 girls gold medal.

Otago had already beaten Waikato 7-4 in round 7 so both sides felt comfortable with the result, Otago coach Dayna Turnbull said.

"The girls hit the tournament from the get-go and never looked back.

"We were right up the front and never lost a game in pool play and that set the tone for our tournament."

The gold medal was Otago’s first at the junior national tournament, which was first run in 2011.

It  meant the under-18 girls side went one better than in last year’s tournament, where they had to settle for silver. The win was the province’s second national title after the gold medal won by the under-21 mixed team at the open national championships in 2014. Otago almost claimed its third title but was denied victory in the under-16 girls by North Harbour in their age-group final.

The Otago under-16 boys finished seventh in their grade and the under-18 boys  finished ninth at the tournament. 

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