The premier under-age Tasmanian competition at Hoblers Bridge had attracted 60 teams and more than 500 players including from Hobart, the North-West, the North East and St Helens.

Northern Tasmanian Netball Association junior convenor Tracy Jones said numbers have increased exponentially in recent years.

“We’ve had an increase of five more teams this year alone,” Jones said.

“One of those were the state under-15s team [in the 17-and-under competition].

“But it has been steadily increasing over the years and more this year. It’s starting to get very popular now.”

Jones felt the packed day of netball provided a sound pathway to grow the sport in behind Tasmanian junior representation, State League and the Tasmanian Magpies.

The carnival now dwarfs similar regional-run events in Hobart and Devonport due to its central location.

“It was much smaller 15 years ago, as we used one lot of courts and not the courts over the road,” she said. 

“It was half as many teams and games back then.”

After a rush of games filled every single court for six hours, the best teams played off in a series of grand finals.

The Hobart-based Southern Tasmanian Netball Association took out six title wins and played in eight of the 11 statewide grand finals.

NTNA Black claimed the blue-ribbon 17-and-under championship decider 21-14 over STNA Gold.

STNA Blue had little trouble in powering away to a 27-11 win against North East Netball Association in the 17-and-under shield final.

STNA Gold conjured up an emphatic victory for the 15-and-under championship title, winning 20-9 against NTNA White.

NENA collected its one grand final win of the day by 20-15 over Circular Head Netball Association Saints.

STNA Gold proved too good for NTNA Black 20-10 to win the 14-and-under championship final.

STNA Blue just hung on 15-11 against St Helens to secure the 14-and-under shield decider.

STNA Gold went on to win the 13-and-under championship 21-12 over Kingborough Netball Association.

NTNA White comfortably defeated for St Helens 21-11 in the 13-and-under shield.

STNA Blue easily accounted for KNA 28-12 to take out the 12-and-under championship title.

NTNA Black defended well in the 11-and-under championship final to hold off STNA Gold 16-9

STNA Blue proved too strong for South East Suns in the 11-and-under shield final 13-7.