Successful Trials for POMNA

The Port Moresby Netball Association (POMNA) kicked off three weeks of trials today, welcoming in the 2010 season.

Last year's premier division champions, Esco Telstars enjoyed a bye while new team Kapunarau showed their flare when they took on the Sparrows.  There was a bit of confusion as the Sparrows wore a scarlet red tunic for the game, a colour normally reserved for Telstars.

The Sparrows are still finalising a sponsorship deal fro the club.  An announcement we hear will be made soon.

As trials, the next three weeks will tune and tone players probably only just emerging from hibernation but as the ladies returned to their more stricter mode the serious element and pace began to kick in and the competitive streak more than showed.

The Rebels and Paramana met in the first premier division game of the day.

(above) Rebels (light blue bibs) v's Paramana (white bibs) 
in today's first premier div game.

(above) Division 1 games between Kawaimini and Veupunama( pics 1 & 2)

and Paramana and island Girls (pic 3)

 (above) A look at new team in premier division, Kapunarau (motled blue floral skirts)

going through their paces against a brightly attired Sparrows team.

Trail games for all other divisions were also played today with the earliest being the U10's first thing this morning.




A reminder to all teams playing over the trials period that umpires are expected from them and so they should not simply walk off after their games.  If the courtesy has been extended to umpire your game, return the complement.

Game 3 of round 2 of the PCNC will be played tomorrow.

A Quick Change to Our Look

As life would have it, we change the furniture around in the house every so often just to see how it would look and we too are experimenting with the look of our site at Near the Hoop so it stays fresh and current.

We'd love to hear you comments and if we can incorporate them, we will.

Images from the Archives - Poreporena Netball Association Grand Final 2009

Late last year, just before the National Championships in Manus, the Poreporena Netball Association held their grand finals at Hanuabada.

Starting with the U13's and makingg their way progressively to the main A grade event, the games were held in the heart of the big village with all the pomp and ceremony expected of such an occasion. The only difference was the court was the main street, the lines marked in oil and the nets, mounted on tyre rims, rolled out for the event.

The spectators needed only to step out of their houses to watch, or sit on their verandas and take in the games.

The street was blocked off at the main intersection well in advance that morning and the stage had been set with uniformed supporters, cheerleaders and a few drops to get set for the biggest day in the PNA calendar.

The handful of images from our archives that are set out below are taken from a selection that has been uploaded to our galleries for your enjoyment.

For the politically correct, the Poreporena Netball Association has now been altered to be the Motu Koita Netball Association and will include several of the Hiri and Lagatoi constituents to the respective electoral boundaries.  Kairuku Hiri and Central Associations absorb the balance.  One thing we can be assured of is that the passion will still remain for the game

From what we are hearing, the street games at hanuabada will be a thing of the past as Governor Parkop has made a commitment to build several courts similar to the Erima courts at the big village and we are looking forward to when they are completed so we can bring you images of the games staged there.

I bet they never thought these images would make press..........

PNG's Pepe's to participate at Commonwealth Games

Verbal confirmations have been received from the PNG Sports Federation and the PNG Netball Federation that Fiji's appeal to be included at this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi failed last week when a Court of Arbitration rejected Fiji's case, meaning that the way is now clear for the Pepe's to take their place at the games.

IFNA posted a confirmation dated 1st April on its website titled "CAS Dismisses Fiji Appeal", however, the formal notifications we understand have only reached the PNGNF this week.

A press release is expected to be provided early next week formally inviting PNG to be the eleventh netball team at the games. India takes the final spot as host.

This provides PNG with an excellent oportunity to make its mark and may just turn a few heads as we have beaten several of the middle order teams including the Cook Islands and Samoa.  Preparations have never been so important for the Pepe's and Pole Kassman and Mike Petrides are confident they are steering the squad in the right direction.  The Pacific Netball Series in June should be a decent performance barometer ahead of the Games.

The Pepe's international committments this year are also critical to whether or not we will also be invited to the World Championships set for Singapore next year, so there is quite a lot of responsibility on the national team this year.

Ahead of a formal release by the PNG Netball Federation we should be wishing the Pepe's, their management and coaching staff a hearty congratulations and good luck .


IFNA link;
IFNA website posting - Fiji's Participation in Commonwealth Games

PCNC Scores and Draws for Sunday 11th April 2010

It will be another of those, Oh My God, I didn't realise I was that unfit as the ladies take the court this Sunday after having had two weeks of kicking up their heels from four, since the close of round 1.

The scores below are from 28th March 2010.

Scores

Round 2 Game 2

28 March 2010

Draws

Round 2 Game 3

11 April 2010

Near the Hoop understands a new points table is being devised to take acknowledge teams that that turn up consistently but loose as opposed to those teams that forfeit out of convenience and still get the same result. We will publish that as soon as it is available.

POMNA Season Starts - Draws for Sat 10 April 2010

The Port Moresby Netball Association posted its draws on Tuesday ahead of its first trial games this Saturday.

New team in the Premier Division, Kapuanrau meet with the Sparrows on court 3 at 12:00 while last years premiers Telstars will enjoy a bye.  There will be seven teams in the premier division this year so at least one team will enjoy a week off each week.

In all there will be six new clubs entering the competition in 2010.  All clubs will be expected to field both senior and junior division teams.  The new clubs/teams are;

                                                  Premier Div  -   Kapunarau 
                                                  Division 3     -   Salvos Central
                                                  Division 4     -   Raukele, Gulf, Mona and Australian High Commission

The U10's start the day off with a sprightly 8:30 am start on courts 1 - 3. 

Draws

Draws for this Saturday are attached below (click to enlarge)

Enjoy your games.

Our appologies for the late posting of the draws.  We will ensure next weeks draws are available at least by mid week.

We're Back

Apologies good followers, we've been a little distracted after Easter and injuries don't help our cause either.

There are a few articles of interest coming up that will raise a few eyebrows and then some celebrations too.

Draws and scores, as late as they are, will be posted shortly including POMNA's start to their competition.

Without games last week, we've found images we have in archive of last years "Poreporena" grand finals in the streets of Hanuabada that should be interesting viewing and of course some trivia and humour that has come to hand.  Poreporena are of course "Motu Koita" now so we'll need to be politically correct on that from here on.

See you soon, near the hoop