TT n-ballers score two-in-a-row

THE Trinidad and Tobago “Calypso Girls” netballers surged to their second victory 53-39 over St Lucia as action in the 21st edition of the Caribbean Netball Association Championships for the Dr Eric Williams Trophy continued at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. But the final score was not a true indication of the manner in which the host country were made to struggle for Monday night’s victory. The St Lucians held a one-goal —  10-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased the margin to three —  23-20 at the half-time interval when the small crowd at the complex and team officials were left in dumb silence. But the “Calypso Girls” netballers showed their fighting qualities in the third period, pushed by the excellent centre-court play by wing-attack Simone Morgan and centre Natalie Pierre and the deft shooting of skipper Janelle Barker. The “Calypso Girls” netballers rallied strongly to take a 35-32 third-quarter lead, and when St Lucia wing-defence Sarah Alexander left the court injured, it paved the way for the final score.

St Lucia and the “Calypso Girls” netballers briefly traded goals at the start of the final stanza, before Barker with deadeye accuracy sent her team on an 8-1 run and it was “match over”. Barker scored 39 goals from 45 attempts to lead her team to victory, while goal-shoot Shem Maxwell netted 31 of 35 and Merlissa Alfred had eight of 15 for St Lucia. Earlier, Jamaica making their first appearance, squashed Nevis 106-10 in a fixture that was over when it started. The “Reggae Girlz” led by ace goal-shoot Elaine Davis who had 61 goals from 65 attempts, were ahead 21-4; 56-5 and 82-6 at the quarter stages, holding the hapless Nevisians to one goal in each of the second and third quarters, and despite ringing in the changes in the final period, they managed just four in the final period. St Vincent powered to their second success, beating St Kitts 63-33 in their encounter while leading 23-5; 35-15; 50-22 at the quarter stages. Trinidad and Tobago met Nevis last night, while Jamaica played St Lucia and Barbados took on St Kitts.

Monday night results: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (53) J Barker 39 (45), S Morgan 14 (30) vs ST LUCIA (39) S Maxwell 31 (35), M Alfred 8 (15); JAMAICA (106) E Davis 61 (65), Simone Forbes 28 (29), Tiffannie Wolfe 5 (11), Marvetta Murray 12 (19) vs NEVIS (10) Latasha Isles 9 (13), Dionne Howell 1 (5).