There’s a little bit of time for Abbie Middlemiss to put her feet up after a hectic winter sporting schedule.

The Year 13 Southland Girls’ High School student and SBS Bank Academy Southland Leadership Year athlete is coming off the back of campaigns with the Invercargill Netball Centre’s under 18 team, the Girls’ High first XV and the Girls’ High Senior A netball team.

“It’s been pretty full on,” she said with a laugh.

“It was rugby shoes off and netball shoes on. I like it, it’s nice to change things up and not be playing the same thing all the time. A bit of variation is pretty cool I reckon.”

Abbie has shared the ride with Anna Templeton, who is a Foundation Year member of the Academy. The pair were both members of the Debbie Munro-coached INC under 18 team which finished eighth out of 34 teams at the national tournament in Hamilton in mid-July.

Meanwhile, Girls’ High were also enjoying a successful rugby season.

An undoubted highlights was winning the Highlanders region final against an Otago Girls’ High School team that had beaten them convincingly the year before.

In fact, Southland Girls’ reversed a 50-5 loss in 2022 to win 76-5 in 2023. Rumour has it that Otago Girls’ were so confident before the final that they had already booked flights for the South Island final in Christchurch.

Little more than a week later, the rugby boots were being swapped for court shoes with Invercargill hosting the South Island secondary schools netball championships at ILT Stadium Southland.

More than 70 teams took part across the grades in the tournament, with Girls’ High finishing sixth after another close fought match against Villa Maria - only one goal separated the two teams over two games.

Playing at home had been a special experience, Abbie said.

“Usually when we go away we don’t have as many supporters, so it was really cool to have the court surrounded with supporters.”

Anna had been named as a non-travelling reserve for the Invercargill Open team for the national championships, while Abbie was recognised as one of the top players at the South Island tournament.

Seeing James Hargest College also compete so strongly at the South Island event had also been exciting, Abbie said.

Players from both teams had played together for the Invercargill under 18 team, while Hargest had enjoyed two wins over Girls’ High during INC Saturday competition.

Hargest fought out a one-goal win over St Hilda’s to finish seventh in A grade.

Trialling for Girls’ High’s sevens team and the approaching Condor Sevens competition was next on the agenda for Abbie, who has been inspired by Southland Boys’ High School’s victory in the national Top Four competition.

“I’m so happy for them. It really goes to show that you can win a national title from Southland.”

Article added: Monday 11 September 2023