Reihana Harrison has created Mid Canterbury Netball history in 2023. But, in typical 13-year-old boy fashion, he’s taken it all in his stride.

Reihana is believed to be the first boy playing full time in Mid Canterbury Netball’s senior youth (secondary aged) competition, playing for Rakaia Mobil in the Bellissimo 2^nd grade.

It’s his second year playing netball, starting last year as a year 8, and while he filled in for the Rakaia club’s secondary teams at times last year, this year he’s the first and only boy officially playing in a secondary aged netball team in the Mid Canterbury Netball competition.

But it doesn’t bother him at all. He loves any opportunity to test his skills out on court, where he’s proven to have a fair amount of netball talent.

He can probably thank his genes for that. Mum Lara Reihana has played netball for as long as she can remember, and is still a force to be reckoned with playing premier netball today. Last year Lara was part of the Rakaia ProShear premier 2 team, and this year she’s taken her experience to the club’s newest young premier team – Rakaia Seed Cleaning – in ACL Premier 3.

Reihana’s first foray into netball came in 2022 when he and friend Reihana Carroll played for Rakaia School at the primary schools’ winter tournament, the Koru Games, and for the Rakaia club on Saturday mornings.

Both Reihana and Reihana initially joined in for fun, and just kept going. While Reihana Carroll’s not playing this year, Reihana Harrison has continued.

A basketballer before trying his hand at netball, Reihana has found the transition from one sport to the other simple.

“It’s pretty easy, because I like using my athleticism,” Reihana said.

And athletic he is – Reihana has given opposition teams a whole new challenge to contend with this year, with his speed and the hang time he gets through the air.

Asked what his favourite thing about playing netball is, Reihana said it’s the shooting, intercepting and defending – pretty much the whole game.

He’s a versatile player, more than capable in the circle as a shooter or a defender, but it’s the attack end that he prefers, with goal attack his preferred position.

“So I can shoot and still play defence and intercept, and run most of the court,” Reihana said.

He’s not at all worried about being the only boy in the competition, and has been joined a couple of times this year by another of Rakaia’s up and coming boys, year 8 student Jonty Watson, who has filled in when players have been away.

Reihana said his advice to any other boys out there keen to give netball a go was simple.

“Go for it! Show the girls how to play netball!”

Mid Canterbury Netball rules currently allow boys to play netball without limitations up to and including the age of 14, and while Reihana is currently the oldest boy playing, there’s plenty of boys ready to follow in his footsteps.

For the second year in a row, the Allenton Netball Club has an all boys team playing. Last year they played in the Ashburton New World Year 6 grade, and this year they’ve made the step up to year 7-8 netball as a team of year 7 boys. They’re currently playing in the junior senior B grade.

There’s also a couple of boys playing for St Josephs Celtic in the year 7-8 competition this season, and below that there’s boys scattered across most clubs right down to the youngest year 3 teams.

Article added: Sunday 25 June 2023