Swish go two from two at Auckland’s Quest Tour stops

Image: Dame Dolla, winners Youthtown Under 17 Boys

‘Swish’ made it two from two at Auckland’s 3×3 Quest Tour events in 2020 after winning when it mattered most at Eventfinda Stadium on Saturday.

The second stop of the tour had 38 teams playing across five different grades, all of which saw the victors win their finals convincingly.

In the Open Men’s grade, both sides who topped their groups went on to lose their semi-final. Pool A leaders ‘T45’ went six from six in the round-robin but were pipped 12-9 by Pool B runners-up ‘Scam’. ‘Coasties’ were the other undefeated side and fell to the eventual champions Swish, 11-8.

The Auckland West event champs, Swish, would brush aside Scam in the final 21-14. The result gave them five wins in which they finished the game before time expired. Because Swish had already qualified for the Finals with their victory at the previous stop, Scam will now join them in the Finals with their second-place finish.

Among the stars to turn out for the event were Tall Ferns Chevannah Paalvast, Ella Fotu and Matangiroa Flavell. Women made up of two of the grades playing last weekend, with a Junior Girls and Senior Women’s competition.

The Youthtown Senior Women’s grade was contested between four teams, meaning everyone qualified for the knockout stages. ‘The Vets’ won all three of their games in pool play and progressed through to the final by toppling ‘The Big Boys’ 20-9. In the other semi ‘You Maee’ beat ‘Shooters’ 14-12.

You Maee would then provide the upset of the day in their final by outplaying the Paalvast and Fotu led Vets 18-13.

The winners of the remaining Youthtown grades were ‘Bench Warmers’ in the Junior Girls, ‘Dame Dolla’ in the Under 17 Boys and ‘NoX’ in the Under 15 Boys.

Next up on the 3×3 Quest Tour road trip is Tauranga, where teams will meet at Harbourside Netball Centre on 15 February (Saturday) for their chance at a 3×3 title.