Competition is fierce in the Pacific Netball Series 2014, which is currently under way in the Cook Islands. Four time defending champions Fiji were pushed all the way by a determined Samoa side, before eventually squeezing to a 50-46 victory. Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea fought back from 22-25 first half deficit to take their first victory of the competition 50-40 over the Cook Islands. In other first round matches, Fiji defeated Papua New Guinea 59-49 and Samoa was too strong for the Cook Islands 51-43. For all the latest news, please follow the Netball Samoa page on Facebook.
In the Netball Europe senior championships, reigning champions Wales withstood immense pressure from a motivated Scotland side to maintain their hold on the title with a 41-38 win in the final fixture of the competition. However, Scotland, who will host the Commonwealth Games in a few weeks time, look set to move up the world rankings for the second time this year, from their current position of 12th, after taking second place in the competition.
England Netball’s selectors have announced a long squad of 18 players from which the country’s Commonwealth Games side will be chosen. The athletes named are: Ama Agbeze, Rosie Allison, Sara Bayman, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Jade Clarke, Kadeen Corbin, Sasha Corbin, Rachel Dunn, Stacey Francis, Serena Guthrie, Jo Harten, Helen Housby, Lindsay Keable, Laura Malcolm, Geva Mentor, Mia Ritchie, Hannah Reid, Alice Travis. The squad will be undertaking a series of training camps in the coming weeks, before the final 12 players for Glasgow will be named, together with the captain who will take over the role from the injured Pamela Cookey.
Malawi international Mwayi Kumwenda has signed to play for the Mainland Tactix in the 2015 ANZ Championships. After an impressive debut season, in which Kumwenda topped the league’s shooting statistics with 540 goals at 91.4% accuracy, the first Malawian to play in the league has confirmed that she will return to the Christchurch-based side next year.
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Vixens have lifted the minor premiership in the competition, despite losing the final match of the league season 64-65 to the Southern Steel. The NSW Swifts had the chance to take the top of the league spot but also stumbled to lesser-ranked opposition, losing 53-56 to the resurgent Northern Mystics and slipped to third place in the table. Queensland Firebirds took full advantage, netting their sixth win in succession to defeat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 59-55 and moved into second place, giving themselves two potential chances to make the Grand Final. The Vixens will be their opponents in the first semi final, with the winner booking their place in the Championship game, while the loser will face the victorious team from the other play off, between the NSW Swifts and the Magic. For more information about the competition, please visit www.anz-championship.com.
Finally, U23 players in New Zealand trialled a selection of potential rules changes to the game at a Zone competition last weekend. Netball Central, Netball Mainland, Netball Northern and Netball WBOP tested the amendments, which included the introduction of a two point shooting circle outside the existing ring, 30 second injury stoppages and changes to the way centre passes are taken. Outcomes from the trial will be considered and discussed by the INF before presentation to the international meeting in August 2015.
