Tailulu's Netball Teams won three categories of the inaugural Te Tau Lava National Netball tournament on Saturday 8 December. This is the second win for the netball champions after taking home the Mo'onia Cup earlier this month.

Tailulu won the senior and U-18 grade with Tailulu Galaxy winning the mixed grade to take home a total of $1,100 in cash prizes.

This the first Te Tau Lava tournament after a 'Kau Mai Tonga' public campaign launched by the Tonga Netball Association (TNA) to increase participation in netball and promote teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle through physical activity.

The tournament, held over three Saturdays started on 17 November with the finals held on 8 December at Tailulu College grounds. A total of 27 clubs with 58 teams from Tongatapu competed in four categories of U-18, Senior, Golden Oldies and Mixed grade.

Tailulu

Tailulu won the Senior Grade and received $400 cash prize after beating Fuekafa team from Houma who earned $350 in second. Sopu earned $250 in third place.

In the mixed division Tailulu Galaxy won the $300 cash prize, Fanga came in second with $250 and Houmakelikao in third with $200.

Tailulu won the U-18 grade first prize of $400, Fuekafa in second with $350 and Fanga in third with $250.

In the Golden Girls grade Lapaha took first prize of $400, Kolofo'ou Lion in second with $350 and STT Kolofo'ou with $250.

Community

Talita Tu'ipulotu TNA Operations Manager said they plan to hold three tournaments annually starting next year in collaboration with local stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Police and Tonga Health.

The tournament aims to strengthen grassroots netball participation to emphasise the reduction of NCD's through health promotion. It will also help increase the participation of women and girls in the community to play sports and foster positive influence for their well being.

TNA is a new sporting body responisble for netball across Tonga to improve the accessibility to the sport by people across all age groups.

The assocation is supported by the Pacific Sport Partnership funding with stakeholders including AusAID, Australia Sports Commission, Netball Australia, Netball New Zealand and the Oceania Netball Federation.