Suva Netball is progressing well with its weekly league, having wrapped up the final round yesterday. The finals series is set to take place over the next two weeks.
Throughout eight rounds of competition, the club has successfully hosted 415 matches across nine registered grades. A total of 89 teams from 12 clubs participate each week at the National Netball Centre in Laucala Bay, Suva, enhancing the competitiveness of the league and expanding the talent pool.
This year, the minor grades have been restructured compared to last year’s format, where there was only one princess grade for ages nine to 13. Due to increased interest, the organizers created a separate grade for ages eight to 10 known as the Angels and another for ages 11 to 13 called the Roses. The Princess grade is designated for ages 14 to 16, the Development grade for 17 to 19, and there are also premier and Queens grades for players aged 40 and above, alongside men’s and super grades, totaling nine grades this season, explained Games Coordinator Gabriel Qoro.
Qoro, a former national netball coach who oversees match organization, noted that clubs reaching the finals will have played 479 games over the 12-week competition. He emphasized that this extensive game time is crucial for the success of their teams each season.
“Our top eight from the super grade compete in one-hour matches every Saturday and represent the elite of our league. Additionally, our Development grade for ages 17 to 19 is performing exceptionally well, with players being selected to represent Suva in the ongoing FinanceHub Super League. Our effective development programs have drawn players to join Suva, contributing to the success of our association,” Qoro added.
The competition will pause next week to allow teams to prepare for the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for Saturday, August 17, at the National Netball Centre.