Motu-Koita West reign supreme in tourney

By ROBINSON LEKA
MOTU-KOITABU West took out the top honours during Monday’s Motu-Koita netball finals after winning four of the tournament’s five divisions at the Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex in Port Moresby.
West claimed the men’s, mixed, A-reserve and Under-21 titles while Motu-Koita South grabbed a 14-12 win in the premier division.
In the men’s division, Motu-Koita West Two beat Motu-Koita South One 12-10 while Motu-Koita West Three triumphed over Motu-Koita South Two 14-11 in the mixed final.
Motu-Koita West Two won the A-reserve title with a 12-11 victory against Motu-Koita South One while the U21s saw Motu-Koita West Two sink Motu-Koita West One 10-7.
Meanwhile, tournament host and Motu-Koita West Netball Association president Kori Toua-Navuru said the three-day event would serve as the selection platform for the traditional landowners of Port Moresby.

She said train-on squads would be named later this month with the final Motu-Koita teams to be selected to form one of two National Capital District contingents.
“For all five divisions, we intend to select a training squad of 25-30 players,” Toua-Navuru said.
“We will trim the squads after trial matches in preparation for the national championships in November,” she said.
“It has been tough trying to get this tournament running amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
“But we’re thrilled that we can have it early in the year.
“The feedback from teams taking part has been really good.

“We had teams asking if they could join after we started.
“But as much as possible, we tried not to revise the draw.”
Toua-Navuru thanked Pacific Industries, through Pepsi, for sponsoring the tournament.
“Pacific Industries has been supportive of Motu-Koita West Netball Association,” she said.