Defending champions Tonga Tala suffered a surprising 55-52 defeat to Samoa’s national netball team, Tifamoana, in a thrilling PacificAus Netball Series match on Wednesday.
Tifamoana started strong, leading 15-10 after the first quarter. Tonga narrowed the gap to 28-24 by halftime, showcasing their championship resilience. The third quarter intensified as Tonga came within one point, but Samoa maintained a 43-40 advantage.
In the final quarter, despite Tonga briefly taking the lead, Tifamoana’s sharp passing and crucial defensive plays secured their historic win.
This victory follows Tifamoana’s 54-45 win over the Fiji Pearls, positioning them as strong contenders in the tournament.
In other Day 2 matches, Fiji lost to Scotland 47-67 while Australian First Nations Black Swans beat Papua New Guinea 59-52.
The fifth edition of the PacificAus Netball Series, hosted by Netball Australia under the PacificAus Sports program, features teams from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Australian First Nations Black Swans, and debutants Scottish Thistles.
