Going all out: Cook Islands’ Angela Ma

The star of the tournament

Nineteen-Year-Old Teresa

Tairi will stand out in the minds of netball lovers in Fiji, as the player that clinched victory for New Zealand in the deciding match against tourna ment favourites Australia.

The Kiwis were declared winners after beating their arch rival and neighbours, 44-40 during the one week championship that ended on Decem ber 5.

Tairi will be well remembered for her accurate shooting at the goal circle in both attacking and shooting pos itions. Her cool perception throughout the tournament saw her as a sure starter in the Kiwis first 7. A netball enthusiast described her as “a cool, perfect and talented netball player”.

She went on to predict Tairi will make the New Zealand national side in the next world tournament. The best players from the rest of the Pacific teams.

AUSTRALIA: Goal shooter/at tacker Nicole Marshall was impressive with her quick action and accurate shooting from any range within the semi-circle. Solidly built and short she put most defenders to shame with her quick dodging and accurate shooting.

She was one of the shortest and most impressive players of the tournament.

COOK ISLANDS: Captain and goal shooter Angela Maoate was the tournament’s steadiest shooter. Moate was a tower of strength for her team and had a height (about 6 foot) to supplement it. The Cooks under the watchful eye of their coach and former New Zealand rep Margharet Matenga finished third behind New Zealand and Australia. And with Matenga’s coaching Maoate, who’s just 18, is poised to become the South Pacific’s best shooter for at least the decade ahead.

Papua New Guinea: The Leka

sisters; Mona Lisa and Jullienne. Both sisters read the game well and con trolled it as if their lives depended on it, especially those against Fiji. They will both be featured constantly in future netball fixtures in the South Pacific, if they continue with their style of game.

Western Samoa: Mesepi

Kasiano, Western Samoan goal keeper. Kasiano has a talented eye for

the ball and is in a class of her own when defending in the goal semi-circle.

She has a good sense of defending in space and is an excellent re-bounder.

TONGA: Siulolo Liku. Tonga’s robust centre, turned goal attack. Pint sized Liku, attacked well for Tonga starting off the tournament as centre.

She controlled the game well from mid-court but due to poor shooting, she was slotted into goal attack. Her height did not deter her and saw her intercepting some very high balls. Liku is also the kingdom’s sprints and hurdles champ.

FIJI: Seventh former Bulou Elena Rabuka was a defender to be reckoned with in her tireless efforts at wing defence. Her efforts saw her intercept ing many balls but these were unfortu nately wasted by her team shooters.

Her participation during the tourna ment saw her father Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in the VIP stand every time Fiji played.

And athlete in his own right, (national rugby and athletics rep), his second daughter is bound to make it into the national side. Also worth mentioning is wing attack and student teacher, Seforosa Munivai.

VANUATU; Captain Selina Tabe must be congratulated for her team’s spirit during the tournament. Al though, Vanuatu lost all their games, the girls in yellow and black will be remembered for their entertaining netball. Tabe held her own in goal defence position and her team’s height was definitely their disadvantage. • The final placings: New Zealand, Australia, Cook Islands, England, Pa pua New Guinea, Fiji, Western Samoa, Wales, Tonga, Canada and Vanuatu. □

Arin Chandra foots against New Zealand

Arin Chandra Tairi: cool, perfect and talented