NADROGA has set the early pace in the Crest Fiji Primary School Netball Tournament, remaining unbeaten to top the under-9 Pool A standings with six points after pool play at Subrail Park in Labasa as tight contests across age groups set up a dramatic knockout phase starting tomorrow.
In the under-9 grade, Nadroga sit clear at the top of Pool A on six points, with Labasa Mystics and Cakau Pearls locked together on four. Nadi Giants have run out front in Pool B with an unbeaten eight points, followed by Cakau Tagimoucia, while Pool C is being led by Nasinu Celeste on six points ahead of Labasa Firebirds on five. Suva Libra heads Pool D with six points, Navosa sit second on four, and Pool E has a shared lead between Lautoka Maroons and Cakau Sharks on six points with Suva Velvet trailing on four. Pool F is tightly poised with Nadi Jets and Lautoka Gold tied on six and Nasinu Phoenix on four.
The under-10 division has produced a string of deadlocks and narrow margins. Cakau Tagimoucia and Kadavu are level on six points in Pool A, while Navosa and Nadi Jets share six points in Pool B. Lautoka Maroons lead Pool C with six points ahead of Cakau Pearls on five, and Cakau Sharks top Pool D on six with Naitasiri Highlands close on five. Nadroga and Suva Libra jointly top Pool E on six points, Labasa Mystics lead Pool F on six while Nasinu Celeste and Macuata South are tied on four, and Suva Orchid remains in contention with four points in Pool G.
In the under-11 competition, Lautoka Maroons lead Pool A on six points. Nasinu Celeste have been dominant in Pool B with eight points, with Tailevu South second on six. Cakau Tagimoucia head Pool C on eight points ahead of Suva Velvet (six), and Pool D is finely balanced with Kadavu and Cakau Pearls level on seven. Navosa lead Pool E on six (Lautoka Gold on five) and Nadroga top Pool F on six.
Older grades have been equally competitive. The under-12 division sees Lautoka Maroons and Nadroga locked at eight points in Pool A. Lautoka Gold and Cakau Sharks share the lead in Pool C on six points, while Nadi Giants top Pool D on six. Suva Velvet and Suva Orchid head Pools E and F respectively with six points apiece, and Cakau Tagimoucia and Suva Libra each lead their pools with six points.
Under-13 action has Nasinu Celeste and Cakau Tagimoucia level on eight points in Pool A. Lautoka Gold and Nadi Jets share Pool B honours on six points, Pool C is balanced with Cakau Sharks and Suva Libra on five each, Lautoka Maroons lead Pool D on eight, Nadroga White top Pool E on six, Suva Orchid head Pool F on six, while Labasa Firebirds lead Pool G. At under-14 level, Suva Orchid have pulled clear in Pool A with 10 points and Kadavu sit second on eight. Cakau Pearls and Suva Libra are tied on six in Pool B, Serua top Pool C, Lautoka Maroons lead Pool D on six, Namosi Blues head Pool E on six, Nadroga top Pool F on four, Pool G is locked in a three-way tie between Cakau Tagimoucia, Labasa Mystics and Macuata South on four, and Navosa lead Pool H on five.
Organisers say pool results will determine placement into Tier One and Tier Two divisions for the remainder of the tournament. With multiple draws and several pools decided by single-point margins, tomorrow’s quarter-finals promise to be decisive as schools from across Nadroga, Labasa, Nadi, Suva, Nasinu, Lautoka, Kadavu, Cakau, Navosa, Tailevu and other districts chase places in the semifinals and the race for top honours intensifies.