The NetballSmart Netball NZ Open Champs got underway today, at Pettigrew Green Arena, in Napier.
The Open Champs is netball鈥檚 oldest competition with teams competing for the 91色情片 Cup which was first played for in 1926.
Showcasing a mix of promising up-and-coming talent with a sprinkling of well-known faces, who have ANZ Championship experience, those who have gained exposure in the Synergy Hair Netball League (SHNL) and newcomers, the Open Champs put provincial pride on the line while offering career-boosting opportunities for others.
15 teams are competing this year, spread across four pools with the first day and a half consisting of a round robin format in the respective pools.
Games consist of four 12-minute quarters with winners collecting four points, two being allocated for a draw and one point for a loss of three goals or less. Until teams reach the cross over stages, where the format changes slightly with each match requiring a winner, with overtime being played should a match finish on a draw at the end of regulation time.
Auckland, Wellington, North Harbour, Christchurch Whero, Manuwatu Green, Wait膩kere and Tauranga all got through the first day with unblemished records.
In Pool A, Kapi Mana, led by Whitney Souness started their tournament with a win over defending champions Counties Manukau 54 鈥� 44, Auckland posted a convincing 68-23 win over Manurewa in their first match. Before the two teams met in the afternoon match, with Auckland prevailing 62-46 after a tightly contested first half.
Wellington and North Harbour are set to meet in the final match of Pool B on Friday morning. Which promises to be a good battle after both posting convincing wins from their first two pool matches.
Manawatu Green led by Silver Fern Parris Mason are topping Pool C with wins over Hawkes Bay 56 鈥� 43 and Taranaki 60 鈥� 35. Christchurch Whero the other unbeaten team in the Pool, had a good tussle with Hawkes Bay, before finally pulling away to a 39 鈥� 27 final score.
With just 3 teams in Pool D, Wait膩kere and Tauranga eased their way into the tournament with just one game each, posting wins against a young and enthusiastic Manawatu White. Both Wait膩kere and Tauranga boast a number of ANZ and SHNL players in their line up. So their showdown on Friday morning is set to be good match up.