Mo'onia Gerrard with the Mo'onia Cup and Lord Vaea at Nukunuku. 2012.

Tailulu's Senior Netball Team won the Mo'onia Cup 2012 and a $700 cash prize after upsetting Marist, the champion for three-years in a row, since the tournament started in 2009.

The annual netball tournament held in Nukunuku is named after Mo'onia Gerrard a Tongan netball star in the Australian National Team.

The two-days tournament was was opened by Lord Vaea the Minister for Internal Affairs on 24 November at Leipua Ground in Nukunuku. The final was held on Monday 3 December.

Forty netball teams competed in four grades that included the Senior grade who vied for the Mo'onia Cup, U-14, U-18 and a new Golden Girls grade for women 35-years and older.

Tailulu

Tailulu won the Senior Grade for the first time and received the cup and the $700 cash prize after beating Marist 14-9. Marist received $500 and Houmakelikao came in third with $200.

Tailulu again took the first prize of $700 in the Under-18 grade followed by Houma with $500 and Lapaha in third with $300.

In the U-14 grade Fungafele'ave of Nukunuku won the $700 cash prize, Tailulu came in second with $500 and Lapaha in third with $300.

For the Golden Girls grade, the Maui-Kisikisi Police netball team won the first prize of $500, Lapaha came second with $350 and Fanga third with $200.

Development

Toakase Fakakovikaetau of the Mo'onia Cup Organising and Sports Committtee said the tournament focused on developing netball by targeting Under 14-18 years. The highlight of the tournament is the Mo'onia Cup for the Senior grade.

She said in the last three-years the tournament had grown from 12 to 40 team. The Golden Girls grade was included for the first time this year to support older women play for health, she said.

Mo'onia who refereed the final netball games also selected a Mo'onia Mata'itofe Squad of 29 players, and picked an U-14 Development team, which she plans to support and coach.

"We hope to be bigger next year and expand the tournament to the outer islands," said Toakase.

Fungafele'ave Netball Club Organising committee of Nukunuku held fundraising activities to support the prizes for the tournament.