Big Names Tumble in PCNC comp - Sunday 21 Feb 2010

Perhaps it was the cooler afternoon air or simply an under estimation of their opponents, but it was the big names in the PCNC premier division that took an almighty tumble in front of a decent netball crowd at the Bisini courts on Sunday.

Brian Bell took to a relatively passive Westpac side in the second premier division game of the day making it two Sunday losses in a row for the bankers, beating them only by the closest of margins 14 - 13 and  in the main match of the afternoon, BSP's green machine had a difficult time containing a surging Fairdeal Liquors side, succumbing 18 - 25 in an otherwise tight encounter.

BSP (in green) really struggled to get a grip on today's main game

Fairdeal eventually won the game 25 - 18

Even with an impressive line up, last years premier's were simply hustled out of the game by a hungrier opposition.  It was a fast, high energy encounter but in the end it was the ladies in black with the money.

In boxing out the likes of Renagi Dringo and forcing errors in a normally proficient passing game for their oppositions mid court, the Fairdeal ladies were able to get under BSP's skin, forcing the green machine to boil over.  But when the bankers they were able to string their passes together, they certainly looked like the champion side they are.

Taking nothing away from Fairdeal, it was a job well done.

In the other premier division games of the day, IPA put their name in the winners circle with a 28 to 15 drubbing of Daltron.  A smiling Julianne Leka-Maliaki, happy with the result said  "There's still alot of work to do, but winning always makes it worthwhile".  Air Niugini kept it's claim on the prize intact by posting a 11 net buffer on Numbawan Supa 30 - 19 in a fairly polished performance and will be another team hard to beat this year.

In other games on Sunday, the cobwebs still are very apparent with teams like FinCorp and Datec struggling to find a fluid rhythm to their game.  Not so for teams like the PNG Sports Foundation who's form see them building on a winning run in Division 3.

Theodist have to be the standout when it comes to uniforms and the bar seems to be raised each year.  The uniform kits give the ladies a lift in both appearance and performance.

We will post the rest of our images of Sunday's games this evening so for those wanting to see the game pics please be patient.

If your able to, let everybody know about the page as the more this type of blog is seen, it lifts the profile and interest in the game.  The more prospective sponsors see how well netball is organised, the more likely they are to consider sponsoring competitions, the facilities and the game.

The images below are some of the faces from Sundays' crowd, which was a real decent number.

A busy court, good games and great company always makes these competitions a sure thing.

If you look at some of the crowd shots, there is quite a bevy of people enjoying themselves.  It's a wonder why so much money is being pumped into other sports and so little into netball.  It's time for a change, don't you think?

(below) Faces from Sunday's crowd

Thanks for your patronage and see you at the courts this Sunday.


Near the Hoop
PNG's only Netball Newspaper

Busy Day for PSNA - Sat, 20th Feb 2009

Port Moresby - Bisini Courts
20 February 2009


A busy day for the PSNA competition as they looked to catch up on lost time caused by the late start to season 2009/2010.

Again games were doubled up today to catch up on time lost due to the PNG Games.  In the premier division Telikom continued on its winning streak with two wins, the first over IRC and the second over Port Moresby General Hospital.

(above) Telikom (in blue) in action against 

Port Moresby General Hospital today.

Details, scores for all games, current tables and the draws for next week will be provided over the next few days for those interested. 

Images of todays games should be uploaded by Sunday evening.  There are some copyright and resolution issues we need to cleanup internally before this next batch gets uploaded to our web galleries.


Near the Hoop
PNG's only Netball Newspaper

Images from 2009 IEA Schools Grand Final - Uploaded

For those that attend the international schools in Port Moresby, September 2009 was a busy time for them on the Ela Murray oval as they vied for the pennant in the different age groups.

Near the Hoop was there to record the grand finals on 19th September 2009.

Needless to say the day was an interesting one with Salvation Army taking out the major age group in a tightly contested match against Koroboro.  In the end there were different schools taking home the silverware.  Gordon International, Koroboro and Ela Murray seeing their schools etched on the trophies for 2009.

I hope those involved will enjoy the very swish picies of the event.

Just go to the "picasa galleries" section on the right side of the page and click on an image to bring up the albums and scroll.  Here are a few images from the gallery just to wet the appetite.

Well organised, well managed and for a first time out, an excellent venue.  It is hoped the PNGNF can latch onto this kind of event and encourage the school girls competition to flourish so that talent for the Pepe's can eb identified early in the development stages of the sport.

It also gives the children something to do, encourages team spirit and promote interschool networking.

Well done to all.


Near the Hoop
PNG;s only Netball Newspaper

Nisha Omi makes a splash in Aus

Received this titbit about Nisha Omi in Australia. As you'd expect, Nisha is making a splash in North Queensland and her netballing skills are an asset that has seen her make the local newspapers.

Some of the details may not be entirely correct, but hey, it goes to show even the dimdims don't always get it right.

(top) Nisha fourth from right with the U21 national side "the cocoons"

(above) Nisha, fourth from left as a "Pepe" in Singapore

Good on you Nisha, if you happen to visit this page. We'll be seeing you on the court some time soon no doubt.

Please encourage those other PNG folk in Australia to visit the blogspot as the more will be the merrier.

You can read the article on the following link.  Highlight the link address, right click and search by google and then click on the google link provided. 

http://www.cqnews.com.au/story/2010/02/12/emerald-now-home-for-png-netballer/

Thank you also to Mike Petrides for bringing the article to our attention.

Image of Pepe's, courtesy of Mike Petrides

Near the Hoop
PNG's only Netball Newspaper

NTH Picture Galleries

"Near the Hoop" has been experimenting with the gallery feature of Picasa on google to upload images into albums on the page.

They appear on the right hand side of the blog and only requires you to click on an image to browse.

It will provide relief from the current method of posting throughout the blogspot text which can be cumbersome at times.

We'll keep trying to make this page as creative as possible for you that have access to the net.

Cheers

PS, comments on how to improve the page would be greatly appreciated.

Near the Hoop
PNG's only Netball Newspaper.

PNG Netball Federation names 43 for train-on squad for Pepe's

On Tuesday 16^th February 2010, the PNG Netball Federation announced a 43 person train-on squad for the national team.  Training the squad started last Saturday for all 43 ladies named and is expected to quickly pick up pace to condition players for several significant international commitments in the region PNG is expected in undertake as well as the Commonwealth Games which, though almost a certainty now, still requires official ratification by the PNG Commonwealth Games Secretariat and that of the Commonwealth General Secretariat itself.

Confirmation from IFNA is also still being sought as to PNG’s status on the matter.

Commitments the Pepe’s have to consider for this year include qualifying for the 2011 World Netball Championships that will be held in Singapore.  To qualify the Pepe’s need to do well at the Pacific Series that will be contested in June this year in the Cook Islands.  Then of course the Commonwealth Games in India will add to the teams prestige both internationally and at home.  I'm not even sure if PNG's netball team has ever been invited to compete at the Games and a real feather in the cap for those that do take the court.

The team as announced to the press on Tuesday is listed below and the formal release to the press displayed below that.

 

 (click on the image to enlarge then

use the Cntrl and + keys to resize the image)

 

Goodluck to all the girls named and we look forward to some decent results.

Near the Hoop

PNG's onlyNetball Newspaper.

Remembering our Mentors - Iga Lahari

Time certainly flies doesn't it. 

Before we even got a chance to get used to the idea of losing a good friend we are reminded of the anniversary of her passing.

On 13th February 2009, a stalwart of PNG netball, companion, friend, steward, confidant, organiser and administrator, adviser and mum to all that needed encouragement, hung up her whistle and joined our other friends on the other side.

The late Iga Lahari during the 2007/2008 seasons

The late Iga Lahari was a stout campaigner for netball in PNG and her special touch will be missed by many who called her mum.  Her contribution to the Central Netball Association over the years is one of the reasons why that association is so strong and her interest in the development of the sport especially at the junior level and in umpiring, still resonates around the country even after her passing.

She left quite a breach for netball to fill and her handiwork, in the way many of the country's netball operations are run, even today, is testament to her diligence. The early starts to each Saturday to keep the POMNA competition moving, the long evenings organising Championships, the assessments and behind the scene headaches to keep the organisational cogs moving and building that work ethic into everyone around her is what makes her contribution so fulfilling.  The late Iga never represented the country as a player, but as an official, her mark will remain indelibly etched in the fabric of the sport in PNG.

Carolyn, Iga's eldest daughter still laments her loss as she goes about her many tasks for netball and as a mother, as we all do.  She is still missed and her memory will remain.

To Howard and children Lawrence, Carolyn, Arinamo and Jacklyn, grandchild Ralema and the family of the late Iga Lahari, the netball fraternity share in this belated special dedication to the life of the late Iga Lahari,  on the anniversary of her passing. 


Near the Hoop
PNG's only Netball Newspaper