Strong participation and improved commitment mark HNA league’s progress this season
By RICHARD MENANOPO
The Honiara Netball Association (HNA) 2026 League has reached a significant milestone, with all 52 teams still actively competing through Round Five and no forfeits recorded so far this season.
The achievement marks a major improvement from last year’s competition, when several teams withdrew midway through the season after a series of defeats, according to HNA Technical Games Organising Committee Secretary Ruth Aihunu.
“The competition so far is going well. Everything ran smoothly until last week when we had to postpone Round Four because of bad weather.
“But from Round One up until now, every team has competed very well. Every team wants to win, and the Super Division has been especially competitive,” she said.
Aihunu said HNA has been encouraged not only by the quality of competition but also by the commitment shown by participating clubs.
“Teams attend every match in full numbers. We have not experienced any forfeits this season.
“Last year we had many forfeits. Some teams stopped participating after losing several games and did not return. But this year, up until Round Five, every team has continued to turn up and compete,” she said.
The league features four divisions comprising of 52 teams, with 10 teams in the Super Division, 12 in Division A, 16 in Division B and 14 in Division C.
Aihunu said the Super Division title race is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting contests of the season.
“In the Super Division, Sunrise and Phoenix are currently fighting for first and second positions. Both teams are very competitive,” she said.
She also highlighted Solomon Islands Submarine Cable Company (SISCC) as one of the standout teams in Division A.
Among the competition’s early highlights, Aihunu pointed to Sunrise’s tournament-high 82-goal victory, describing it as the highest score recorded in the league so far.
She also praised Division B newcomers Manawai, who remain unbeaten after five rounds.
“Manawai Orange is a new team in the league, but they have performed very well. From Round One until now, they have not lost a game. They have drawn one match and won the rest.
“It has been a very positive start for a new team. Compared to other teams in the division, they have come in and gone straight to the top,” Aihunu said.
Beyond competition results, Aihunu said the HNA League continues to play an important role in developing future representative players.
“During the recent Solomon Games, we selected many young student players from this competition to represent Honiara City,” she said.
Despite the league’s success, Aihunu acknowledged that a shortage of qualified umpires remains HNA’s biggest challenge.
“Our biggest challenge is the shortage of umpires. We have many teams but not enough officials.
“Many of our umpires are also players. Sometimes they have to finish playing before they can officiate another match, and by then they are already tired. This year we are training new umpires, especially in Divisions B and C, to help address the shortage,” she said.
Looking ahead, Aihunu encourages supporters to continue to back their respective teams and calls on officials to arrive early to ensure matches start on time.
“We encourage supporters to continue coming out in numbers. Their support lifts the morale of the players,” she said.
The HNA 2026 League officially got underway on June 13 at the Honiara City Council Multipurpose Outdoor Courts and features four divisions playing across two courts.
Round Five fixtures continue this week before the competition progresses towards the finals.
Photo credit: HNA
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