Young local netball enthusiasts have been spoiled for choice during the opening weeks of winter with two junior tournaments taking place on the Kaitaia netball courts over consecutive weeks.
The first event held on Friday, June 6, saw 32 teams entered into the Year 5&6 and 7&8 grades for the Far North Primary School (FNPS) Kiwi Netball Tournament. The day started with a karakia from the Pukemiro umpires and then it was full steam ahead with firstly pool play matches and then later in the day, cross-overs and finals.
The semi-finals of the Year 5/6 grade saw Ahipara 1 beat Pamapuria 1, and Pompallier 1 beat Oturu 2; while in the Year 7/8 grade, Kaitaia Intermediate (KIS) had three teams make the semis with KIS 1 beating Ahipara and KIS 3 beating schoolmates KIS 2. The final of the Year 5/6 was a close affair with Pompallier 1 taking the title while in the Yr 7&8 final it was KIS 1 taking the win over KIS 3.
All matches were officiated by qualified volunteer umpires including school students from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro and the Kaitaia College as well as helpers from the Mangonui Netball Centre (MNC) community such as Cheryl Bamber, Rose Heemi, Tina Punshon and Rosie Walters-Price. The tournament was run by Sport Northland's Lesley Wallace in conjunction with the FNPS Principal's Association and support from a local sponsor.
More recently, another glorious winter's day greeted the 31 teams who arrived at the NMC courts to participate in the Riders Sports Depot FNPS Junior Netball day for year 1 to 4 students last Thursday. Schools represented included Mangonui, Kaitaia Primary, Ahipara, Oturu, Paparore, Taipa Area School, Kaingaroa, Pukemiro and Peria.
