Elite Strikers are new ‘Helen of the West’

Elite Strikers, the reigning Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) club champions, stamped early authority on the game and handed Police their second defeat this week by winning 39-33, the identical score recorded when the two teams met in round robin preliminaries.

Police Stars stayed in contention as the first quarter ended 10-8 in favour of Elite Strikers. At the end of the second quarter, Elite Strikers stretched their lead to 26-17 and were 32-27 ahead at the end of the third.

National player Dedra Mathurin was outstanding as goal shoot for Elite Strikers, netting 34 of 39 attempts for an 87.2 percent average.

Goal attack Glatta Peterson scored five of seven attempts.

For Police Stars, goal-attack Donna Elise Charles netted 28 of 37 attempts, supported by goal-shoot Beverley Hernandez (4/11). Sonia Jack played the first quarter as goal shoot and scored her only attempt at goal.

Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago secured third place when they beat Roy’s Inn TRAC of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 49-31 in their play-off match. Defence Force led 14-10, 29-15, 40-23 at the quarter intervals.

For Defence Force, goal-shoot Dianne Pierre scored 32 of 44 attempts and goal-attack Lystra Zamore 17 of 22. Goal-attack Leeana Lewis had a respectable 78.3 percent average, scoring 18 of 23 attempts for Roy’s Inn TRAC, while goal-shoot Nicolette King scored 13 of 18 attempts.

In the first match of the evening, Shamrock Youth secured fifth spot when they won over Sandals All Stars 43-23 in an all St Lucian affair.

Goal shoot Safiya Paul scored 19 of 28 attempts and another goal shoot Allison Anthony scored 12 of 18.

Goal-attacks Faithline Theodore and Michelle Charles scored eight from 14 and four from seven respectively. For Sandals, Giovanni Lucien scored 21 of 38 attempts and goal-attack Dane Charles two from seven.

Elite Strikers picked up US$3,000 for their victory and the Police Stars team collected US$2,000 prize money.

The Helen of the West Netball Festival is a sports tourism initiative staged by the St Lucia Tourist Board in collaboration with the St Lucia National Netball Association.