The Tasmanian Netball League's First Nations Round lit up Hobart Netball and Sports Centre across the weekend of 27-28 June, with twelve matches across the U19 and Opens grades producing everything from last-gasp finishes to emphatic blowouts.
Saturday's action got underway with Cripps Waratah flexing their muscle in both grades. The Waratah U19's put on 56 goals in a 30-goal win over 19U South East Suns, before the Opens side followed suit with a 48-24 victory over their Suns counterparts. It was a statement start to the round for the club across the board.
Devon were the form team of the day. Their U19 side ran riot against 19U Karana Flames, piling on 67 goals in a 40-goal demolition, while the Opens outfit was equally ruthless, putting 64 past Karana Flames for a margin of 40. Two clean sweeps over Karana in the space of an afternoon.
The evening session brought the night's tightest contests, both involving Cavs and Harcourts Kingston Blues. The Cavs U19 Women got home 57-45, and the Cavs Opens followed with a narrower 55-44 win, Kingston Blues pushing both Cavs sides deep into the final term without quite getting over the line.
Sunday's matches opened with arguably the result of the round. Devon snuck past Cripps Waratah U19's 46-45, a one-goal thriller that went right down to the wire. The Opens grade produced its own form of payback later in the day, with Devon again getting the better of Waratah, this time 33-26, completing the double over the club across both grades and both rounds.
Cavs continued their strong weekend in the second session, with the U19 Women defeating 19U Karana Flames 64-39, before the Open Women produced the standout performance of the entire round, smashing Karana Flames 78-27. The 51-goal margin was the biggest of the weekend by some distance.
Hawks were the final story of the round, announcing themselves with a pair of big wins over the Suns to close out Sunday's play. The Hawks U19's ran out 69-27 winners over 19U South East Suns, while the Hawks Opens made it a clean sweep for the club with a 51-32 win over South East Suns.
By the end of the weekend, Devon and Cavs had emerged as the dominant forces of the final two rounds of the home and away season, each posting wins across both grades and both days, while Hawks served notice with two big performances of their own. With the First Nations Round now done and dusted, the TNL season turns its attention to the finals action that lies ahead.
