Platinum Queens from the mining town of Zvishavane won the inaugural Rainbow Netball League pre-season tournament before a huge crowd at White City Stadium on Saturday that saw 21 teams from across the country fighting for the first prize of $1 000.

The winners beat fellow Midlands side Glow Petroleum 21-19 in an exciting final.

For their loss, Glow Petroleum, powered by national team captain Perpetual Siyachitema went back to the Midlands with $900 courtesy of the tournament sponsors Glow Petroleum.

On their way to the final Platinum Queens topped their Group D league with four wins out of the same number of games and in the quarterfinals they faced seasoned campaigners Sparrows of Bulawayo and emerged 18-3 victors.

Coal miners, Hwange, were to face the winners in the semi-final for the third place play-off and they fell 6-16 while Glow Petroleum who beat the Bulawayo Youth  Games team 14-6 in the finals before accounting for ZRP Bulawayo 15-6 in the semi-finals only to lose to the Mimosa based side.

To get into the semi-finals, Hwange beat neighbours Mwachepa 9-7 in a tightly contested quarterfinal while ZRP Bulawayo emerged 10-6 winners over a season Khami who had seasoned players Thobekile Vundla and Nontando Ndebele in their ranks.

Hwange faced Platinum Queens in the semi-finals but found the going tough as they eventually fell 6-16.

For their sweat, Hwange received $800 while ZRP Bulawayo went home $700 richer.

The well-attended tournament was graced by the principal sponsor, Aaron Chinhara who is the owner and managing director of Glow Petroleum, the League  chairperson Melody Garikai, her secretary general Moses Gukumere, members of the league executive, Sports and Recreation Commission Bulawayo metropolitan province coordinator Sam Dzvimbu as well as the deputy director (Southern Region) in the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation Isaiah Mpofu.
Final pool standings

Pool A
                        P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Mwachepha     4    0    0    0    54    24    8
Khami              4    3    0    1    31    29    6
Beta Queens   4    2    0    2    53    30    4
ZRP Midlands  4    1    0    3    25    45    2
Blanket Mine    4    0    0    4    25    57    0

Pool B
ZRP Bulawayo            5    4    1    0    54    25    9
Hwange                       5    4    0    1    62    26    8
Green Buffaloes          5    3    0    2    54    40    6
Academy                     5    2    1    2    54    40    5
Sobukhazi                   5    1    0    4    23    66    2
Bere Queens               5    0    0    5    22    71    0

Pool C
Glow Petroleum          4    4    0    0    97    13    8
Sparrows                     4    3    0    1    52    32    6
Hungry Leopards        4    2    0    2    31    41    4
Ruwa                           4    1    0    3    24    49    2
Amhlophe                   4    0    0    4    8    77    0

Pool D
Platinum Queens         4    4    0    0    62    13    8
Youth Games              4    3    0    1    43    22    6
Goldreef                      4    2    0    2    32    29    4
Phase 3                       4    1    0    3    18    51    2
Club Queens               4    0    0    4    15    56    0
— @skhumoyo2000.