Army in sight of netball crown

CHAMPIONS Defence Force put themselves in a strong position to retain their title in the Port-of-Spain Netball League, when they bested arch-rivals Police 45-40 in their Pearl Francis Championship Division match at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. Trinidad and Tobago goal-shoot Anastascia Wilson led the Army-Coast Guard girls offensive in Saturday’s tension-charged encounter with 16 goals from 23 attempts. Calypso Girls utility players Stacey Sparks had 13 from 23 and Rhonda John 11 of 15. Lanky Patrice Goring scored 29 goals from 39 attempts, Beverly Hernandez 14 of 26 and Beverly Rodgers two of four for the policewomen. Mucurapo Ex-Pupils won by default over Chips, while San Juan Jabloteh were default winners over Arima United.

But Uppers routed Defence Force 50-35 in their Angela “Pinky” Drayton “A1” Division match at the same venue. Goal-attack Debra Martin was in most accurate form, nailing 35 goals from 36 attempts while Olivia Le Platte had 15 goals from 22 attempts for the winners. For the Defence Force second team, Karlene Sylvester scored 27 of 38 attempts and Donna Chase, eight of 12. Zenith whipped Netaces 34-30 in another thrilling match in the same division. Helen Curden netted 25 goals, Melissa Snaggs had five and Michelle Slater four for the winners. Cheryl Ann Warren, 22, and Karen Sandiford, eight, scored for Netaces. Soul City thumped Arima Ball Masters 50-20 in another match, with Debra Beckles scoring 32 goals and Michelle Boyce, 18, for the winning team.  Natasha Roachford hit eight, Kathy Ann Cain, seven, and Alana Flemming,  five, got goals for the losers.