The Fiji Pearls netball team won its first game against Samoa 55-44 during the PacificAus Sports Series in Australia yesterday.
The Unaisi Rokoura-coached side led 17-9 in the first quarter. Ateca Qasenivalu made her debut as the wing defender while Anaseini Nauqe was on the wing-attack position in the first-quarter.
Captain Alisi Naqiri and Ema Mualevu both worked hard as defenders. In the second-quarter Fiji took the lead 29-24 and in the third-quarter Fiji held firm for 39-34.
Goal-shooter Unaisi Rauluni connected well with Matila Vocea and Maliana Rusivakula during the match.
The Fiji Pearls had a shaky start for the defenders, but they settled in and played gallantly against the Samoans.
The Pearls will take on Tonga today, PNG tomorrow and Singapore on Thursday.
The final will be held on Saturday at 3pm.
The series aims to provide high-level competition for Netball Australia’s PacificAus Sports partners, Fiji, PNG, Samoa and Tonga.
Also participating in the series is Singapore and it’s the first time the teams have competed internationally since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The competition offers an opportunity to test teams ahead of the Oceania Netball World Cup Qualifiers in Fiji in July.
Grasshoppers head coach Alumeci Sashs said they were proud of the girls.
“We are proud of Avelina Navue. At 18 years old, she has a long way to go in her netball career,” she said.
