The newcomer in the Samoan Under-21 netball team Tahnyshavaughn Salanoa was happy with her performance during the Digicel Punjas International Youth Netball Series.

Delighted to be part of the Samoan U21 team, the 17-year-old goal-attack from Melbourne, Australia has improved from playing in the tournament and that their main aim was to give Fiji “a run for their money”.

“I think it was a good run for our team, me being new it was good to get to know the girls and share this experience,” Salanoa said.

“Obviously when we played New Zealand and Australia we didn’t expect to win but we tried our best and that is all we could ask for.

“We came to this tournament looking to give Fiji a good run and I think both times we did, it was just a lack of fitness for our team and just our connections within the whole court but other than that for me it was a good experience and I am looking forward to the world cup.

“Going up against Australia and New Zealand was really good considering they are the best in the world.

“I think we gave them a good run for their money, I didn’t back down, it was just good to see the level that we all need to be at to be able to compete fully.

“This is what we need to aim for when we go away in July.”

Salanoa believes that while she has improved as a player, she said her team needs to make stronger connections on and off the court to be able to field a stronger team.

“I feel like I have improved since the first game I played up until now,” she said.

“I keep working hard and I have definitely taken in all the feedback that has come my way after every game and just try to use it in the next games.

“One of my main aims is to get fitter and get to know the girls a lot more because there is nothing like knowing your team mates really well on and off the court which I think would make a huge difference in the way we play.

“This is what we will need to do in order to get good, we need to build stronger connections and this may not help us win the world cup but it will definitely allow us to give the other countries a good run for their money.”

Coming to Fiji for the first time, Salanoa said she intends to return to get a full experience.

“It is my first time to come to Fiji and it has been really good, the girls have also enjoyed it as well,” Salanoa said.

“But I think I will come back soon, we didn’t really get to see much of the country as we would have liked to but I definitely want to come back in the future.

“The people have been so friendly and they have hosted a great tournament.”