Pepe's Blood New Caps

The PNG national netball team announced on Thursday last week included three new names among a list of capable and experienced campaigners. The three, Marie Otio - Shooter, Rhoda Kerea - Mid Court and Defender Nisha Omi, were plucked from the National U21 team that participated at the World Youth Netball Cup in the Cook Islands recently.

The PNG Netball Federation had been looking seriously at the trialing of new talent for the national squad to at least give the national selectors some depth in the availability of players at international level.

Julianne Leka-Maliaki, Secretary of the PNG Netball Federation has been at pains to try and elevate the standard of netball in the country especially in other centres to encourage the participation of talent outside Port Moresby. This has been a particular concern for netball in PNG as the pool of players when looking into the future is fairly sparse.

Rhoda Kerea will the the newest of the bunch as both Marie Otio and Nisha have trained or travelled with the Pepe's. Rhonda was noticed by talent scouts at recent Central Province tournaments and over several years her consistency and talent development has impressed selectors.

The last time a youth development program for netball was effectively functional was some 13 years ago and the prodigy from that program was Mona-Lisa Leka, the current Pepe's captain. Netball in PNG has unfortunately slid in that area for a range of reasons, but certainly not from a lack of trying.

Rhoda, Marie and Nisha now join the training squad which is undergoing some intense drills regime under the stewardship of Mike Petrides and Pole Kassman to prepare them for the Mini Games later this month, the Nations Cup and so on.

Joining the squad in Brisbane will be young Tiata Baldwin who, standing at 193cm, will give some height to the team.

As you would expect, these young players will be taken under-wing by their contemporaries in the team and depending on their individual resolve, they should blossom to make a name for themselves on the international stage and make Papua New Guinea proud.

Well done to the three and good luck.

The two images are of 1)Rhoda Kerea (ing grey tunic) in an U21 training match against Veupunama and 2) Marie Otio defending for Paramana (black and white tunic) in a recent POMNA premier division match.

PNGNF names Pepe's Squad to Mini SP Games

Sunday 6th September 2009

This week the PNG Netball Federation announced names of the full "Pacific MMI Pepe's" team that will attend the Mini SP Games in the Cook Islands. The same announcement was also made during yesterdays premier division grand final in Port Moresby.

The Pacific MMI Pepe's

Shooters

Lua Rikis -City Pharmacy Rebels -POMNA
Tiata Baldwin -Cougars - ANL - Australian Netball League
Marie Otio -Lagatoi / Paramana - Lagatoi NA *
Gewa Raula - Paramana - POMNA

Mid Court

Mona-Lisa Leka (c) - Esco Telstars - POMNA
Diane Kala - Sparrows - POMNA
Richanda Kassman - Snax Mermaids - POMNA
Rhoda Kerea - Central / Sparrows - Central Province NA *

Defenders

Raka Nope - Esco Telstars - POMNA
Ravu Raula - Paramana - POMNA
Winnie Mavara - City Pharmacy Rebels - POMNA
Nisha Omi - Madang - Madang NA *


Officials

Pole Kassman - Coach - POMNA
Michael Petrides - Manager - POMNA


The side will travel to Brisbane Australia on 16th September while the rest of us are celebrating independence, for both a conditioning session and games against several division 3 teams from the Brisbane League. They then travel to the Cook Islands on the 19th where they will take part in the Games. The Games start on 21st September 2009.

Unfortunately these international games will not be considered as part of the IFNA international ranking protocols but will certainly condition the Pepe's for other international obligations including December's Nations Cup meet in Singapore where they are defending champions.

When asked about their chances, a defiant pole Kassman, Coach of the Pepe's, was quick to say "We are a better than even money chance" and we're looking forward to these Games.

* - Also members of the National U21 "Cocoons"

POMNA 2009 Netball Grand Final Results - Saturday, 2nd September 2009

Port Moresby: Sunday 6th September 2009.

Port Moresby Netball Association (POMNA) held its season grand finals in front of a modest but parochial crowd at the Rita Flynn Netball courts yesterday, Saturday 4th September 2009.

Results at hand are;

Seniors

Premier Division Esco Telstars 34 def Monier Paramana 30

Division 1 Kapunarau def Veupunama *

Division 2 Treasury 34 def Poinimo 33

Division 3 N Layers Birdwings 21 def Kapunarau 20

Juniors

U21 Esco Telstars def Snax Mermaids *

U17 Snax Mermaids 16 def City Pharmacy Rebels 13

U15 Escco Telstars 19 def Snax Mermaids 17

U13A City Pharmacy Rebels 19 def Esco Telstars 13

U13B Esco Telstars 14 def Snax Kaugere 13

U10 Esco Telstars 25 def City Pharmacy Rebels 19

On perhaps the hottest day on record for this time of the year, the POMNA Grand Final went off without a hitch. Sponsors were well represented with tents set up around the main courts and a constant crowd kept the games well attended even as early as 10:00 in the morning when the first games blew time on.

Emily Taule and Pole Kassman, Presidents of the PNG Netball Federation and Port Moresby Netball Associations respectively, were happy at the outcome both in terms of the quality of netball played, the sportsmanship exhibited by all teams and in the conduct of the crowd. Organisers of the event were happy with the smooth flow of events and the behaviour and cooperation of all in attendance.

This year saw several new teams entering the competition and congratulations should be extended to the likes of Kapunarau who in their first year, had two of its teams make the grand finals. Oro Birdwings also made the grand finals in their first year in the competition and Treasury surprised everyone including themselves at making and winning the Division 2 grand finals in their first year out.

A big thanks for all sponsors large and small for an excellent season of netball.

Well done to all teams that participated this year and congratulations to both winning grand- finalists and losing teams, umpires and officials for making this years grand finals a successful event.

* scores not available at time of post

A Flying Start - Junior Netball, the Vital Link

Developing and encouraging the juniors to aspire for the highest possible achievement's in any sport assures a future for that sport. Netball in Papua New Guinea is no exception.

Today's Junior Grand Finals was a refreshing look at the culmination of another year of dedication by those who nurture the young throughout the 2009 season, a glimpse at the good grounding they have been given in the rules of the game and a degree of glamour as you see the small tell tale attributes that young players adopt as they emulate the achievements of those in more senior teams.

Watching the U10's pit their most rudimentary of skills against each other on a court that the senior girls have difficulty shooting on, with bibs that are as big as they are and playing in the most unbearable of temperatures, would bring a smile anyone's face when you notice them adopting an almost ritual passion for the uniform they wear and club they represent. It makes you appreciate that the sport plays a meaningful and effective role in any childs healthy upbringing.

I was most impressed and drawn to the U10's Final between City Pharmacy Rebels and Esco Telstars more because they reminded me of my own children but also appreciating the PNG Netball Federation's never ending task to develop the sport throughout the country.

Just as intriguing I guess was the U13's and eventually the U15, U17 and U21 finals. The obvious progression of skill levels and a passion that emanates from team spirit. Unfortunately corporate PNG seems fixated with Rugby League to the exclusion of other sports leaving sports like netball to fend for themselves with very little resources. The junior Finals were an excellent reminder of where it all began for many associated with the game. To see the banners and tents, the streamers, the attendance of umpires and a host of senior members of the game dotting over their young charges is assuring, to say the least.

Of course, the larger your club, the better your chances of it making it to the finals and particularly for the junior divisions, the Esco Telstars signature is clearly present across the sport. In all but the U17 age division the mighty Telstars had a team in the Finals and with impressive results.

The U10's Final was won by Telstars 25-19 in a game that had everything from crowd participation to people running up and down the court barracking for their team. A real fun time. The U13A Final belonged to City Pharmacy Rebels, beating Esco Telstars 22-13. U13B's went to the Telstars against spirited Kaugere side who came dressed for the occasion in green and white body paint all over themselves and making a real fist of the game that was won only by the sounding of the full time whistle.

U15's, played between Rivals Snax Mermaids and Esco Telstars only just went to the red army 19-17 and the U17 the Mermaids and Rebels was a close contest between two very evenly matched teams. In the end, the mermaids held on to take the game 16-13.

The U21's again evenly contested went the Esco Telstars way, but not without a gutsy effort from both sides.

Despite the scorching conditions today, the courts continued to buzz right into the midday competition with the revelry of the the junior competition, something the seniors would do well to be reminded of.

They had a great day, we had a great day and netball had a great day.

Treasury Impress in first Grand Final

A better script could not have been written for the "rise to fame" for division 2's new kid on the block, Treasury and to win by one point in extra time after hanging onto a 29 each full time score made the story all the more special.

Treasury, made up of the ladies of the Finance, Treasury and National Planning Departments only took the sport up as a means to socialise and bond after the PSNA competition ended earlier this year. To play in the division seemed a crazy notion but today the ladies would have been forgiven if they woke up pinching themselves to see if this was not a figment of their imagination.

To win it in such an enduring way was just mind blowing and I wouldn't be surprised if the bar for the well deserved celebrations tonight was raised just a little.

Their commitment was demonstrated early in the day as they arrived in force to take part in a march-past, one of only two senior division teams to participate in this early morning ritual to the beat of a hastily put together police marching drums. That commitment remained focused when the team took the court and immediately looked to be the underdogs with the Poinimo team well accustomed to this level of competition. But as the game wore on the public service ladies seemed to be the more polished of performers scooting to an early lead and keeping the more fancied Marshal lagoon ladies within their reach. An early lead was cut back by Poinimo and from each quarter there after the two teams seemed to trade the leader card.

At 22 all minutes with only 5 minutes to go it seemed Poinimo might take the game but composure from Treasury saw the lead trade with each net. Full time scores were 29 each and extra time was called without a break in blazing conditions you could fry an egg on.

To their credit it was Treasury who ran away again with a lead that the Poinimo ladies just could not chase down, taking it to the wire again. Treasury ecstatic about their one point win in their first foray into this netball competition. Final scores: Treasury 34 beating Poinimo 33.

Telstars Defend POMNA Premier Division Premiership

Esco Telstars (in red) defended their premier division title this afternoon in a grinding, hard fought encounter with Paramana at the Rita Flynn Courts in Port Moresby.

On a day that saw the mercury spilling out of the dial even as early as 8:00 in the morning the teams just had to contend with conditions that would have been like playing on the surface of the sun. The 15 minute quarters must have seemed an eternity but still both teams turned it on for supporters and fans, providing a game in which neither team let up until the final whistle.

As expected it came down to possession and accuracy near the hoop and for Paramana it was to be a disappointing afternoon with a fairly expensive average deficiency from their shooters in the first and last quarters. It was to be this poor completion rate at critical moments of the game that worked against the ladies in black. At half time it seemed Telstars had Paramana's measure but to their credit, Paramana made a strong resurgence in the third quarter bringing them to within a margin of 5 nets and a sniff of the trophy.

Umpires Emily Taule and Margaret Hill made it clear from the outset that they were not going to accept any nonsense and with several Pepe's, former Pepe's and National U21 squad players in the two teams, rightly so. Emily Maha was advanced several times for dissent and that quickly set the tone for the game and then it was on for young and old.

There was no love lost from either side and the four quarters were evenly poised, even toward the the end of the final quarter.

The final score: Esco Telstars 34 Paramana 30 with an impressive scoring overage for Toka Aua, who really rose to the occasion today playing well above her best. Defender Ravu Raule and Marie Otio in attack shone for Paramana.

In other division grand finals played today there were some real surprises in a day of excellent netball.

Paramana book 2009 grandfinal berth

Monier Paramana (in black tunics) did enough in their torrid encounter with City Pharmacy Rebels last Saturday to book a showdown with Esco Telstars this weekend.

Played in the heat of an overcast but still glaring midday sun, the game started off at quite a pace with the Reble's quick to make the first net of the game count, impressing delegates of the Pacific Games Committee inspecting facilities for PNG's bid to host the games in 2015.

Shooter Lua Mavara was again on the boil, playing a very solid game for the Rebels up front and leaving an endelible mark on that position in teh national team with her agro and excellent positional play, but just as impressive was the Paramana attack who in the end give as much as they got.

In the end it was several crucial turnovers that let the game slip for the ladies in blue.

This weekend will be a feast off fast and furious netball for the fans as Monier Paramana and Esco Telstars go head to head at the Rita Flynn Courts at Bisini. It will be grand finals for all teams with the U10's starting off proceedings at about midday.

Veupunama too booked a berth on Saturdays itinerary with a close win against favourites Telstars in Division 1 so there will be a lot of interesting prospects as the day progresses.

I'll see you all there on Saturday......