QBE Doves defeat Kina Bank in opener

BY JACK AMI
NEWCOMERS QBE Doves got their campaign off to a good start with a 17-6 win over Kina Bank in round one of the Private Companies Netball Competition (PCNC) premier division on Sunday.
The match, played at the Rita Flynn Indoor Complex, started at a slow pace with both sides trying to find their footing. But QBE made the best out of it to claim the three competition points.
The match did not reach any great heights as both sides went about finding their range in the season opener.
Doves had former Papua New Guinea international basketballer Nape Waka partnering Elizaberth Ovo.
The pair combined well with centre Cecila Vui Vagi, wing attack Melissa Kivung and wing defender Vanessa Maso.
Defenders Nora Laka and Jemmimah Pala were effective in shutting down Kina Bank shooters Angela Marupi and Kari Geno.
Kina Bank’s midcourt of Karolisa Geno and Dawegi Manega had to work overtime without a wing defender which hurt them in the 20-minute clash.
Doves led 8-4 at halftime and went on to record another nine points to ease past last year’s second runners-up.
In the other matches, Westpac beat Proclean 17-9 and Bank South Pacific edged Air Niugini 18-13.
Meanwhile, PCNC president Julie Mai has warned clubs to submit a list of all their players and meet the team registration deadline. She said teams would be penalised if they failed to meet the requirements as per resolutions passed by the executive committee.