Giants Titikaveka and Avatiu premier teams made a good start to their Rarotonga Netball Club competition campaigns with wins in round one on Saturday.

Titikaveka battled tooth and nail against Arorangi and escaped with a 48-42 win while Avatiu thumped Takuvaine 73-19. In the other premier match, Tupapa beat Ngatangiia 50-42.

Netball Cook Islands secretary Tekura Moekaa said the Avatiu premier side showed good form “annihilating Takuvaine”.

The opening round also saw a clean sweep of all grades by Tupapa against Ngatangiia.

“It was great to see the young stars from Tupapa and Ngatangiia play in the premier grade with average age of 16,” Moekaa said.

“Also we had a close match between Arorangi and Titikaveka in the premier grade, however Arorangi (was) dominant in age groups.”

In the open grade matches on Wednesday, Takuvaine will host Arorangi, Tupapa will host Titikaveka and Avatiu will host Ngatangiia/Matavera. The rest of the grades from 6 and under to premier will take place on Saturday.

Results

Takuvaine vs Avatiu (Host scores first): 6U - 0-9, 8U - 0-11, 10U - 6-12, 12U - 22-14, 15U - 17 – 41, Premier - 19-73; Tupapa vs Ngatangiia: 8U - 5-2, 10U - 17-2, 12U - 16-9, 15U - 16-14, Premier - 50-42; Arorangi vs Titikaveka: 6U - 9-1, 8U - Arorangi WBD, 10U - 19-1, 12U -Arorangi WBD, 15U - 47-5, Reserves - 44-26, Premier - 42-48.