The Fiji under-19 netball team faced a challenging defeat against the Aotearoa Māori International team, losing 30-70 in their final match with the Kiwis at the FNU Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
From the outset, Aotearoa dominated ball possession, capitalizing on turnovers from Fiji, which allowed them to establish a significant 38-14 lead by halftime.
As the second half progressed, Fiji made desperate attempts to hold onto the ball, but their inability to maintain possession ultimately contributed to Aotearoa’s commanding victory.
Anasimeci Rakavosa, an official for the Fiji under-19 team, expressed her thoughts on the loss during an interview. “The Māori team wanted the win more than us; the girls came out strong, but they weren’t strong enough,” Rakavosa said. She emphasized the importance of scoring, stating, “I’ve always told them the main thing is putting the goals in; if you don’t put the goal in, then the goal won’t count.”
Rakavosa pointed out that the visiting team had skilled shooters and exhibited a strong desire to win against Fiji. Reflecting on the three-match series, she noted that the experience gained is essential for future exposure to international competition. “I think it was a good learning experience for the girls; they needed more games,” she remarked. “They need to have more games like that, so that they know the kind of competition they’ll be facing when they get to the World Cup.”