Calypso Girls maul Nevis 61-27

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s netballers took a step closer to reclaiming the Caribbean Championship with a big victory against Nevis on Tuesday. It was a third straight victory by the Calypso Girls in the 21st Caribbean Netball Association competition staged at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo. The hosts dominated and outplayed Nevis 61-27 in a match moved indoors due to rain but they were not distracted and continued their winning streak. Again they were propelled by their captain and ace goal-shoot Janelle Barker who was outstanding with 50 goals from 55 attempts. Goal attack Simone Morgan was also in good form scoring nine of her 13 attempts on goal. Diana Pierre added the other two goals from three tries as the home team led 17-16, 33-15 and 44-23 after three quarters.

For winless Nevis, goal-shoot Latasha Isles sank 21 of 22 attempts and shooter Dionne Howell went six of 16 in her efforts. Former champions Barbados also recorded their second victory in as many matches when they outplayed St Kitts 66-33 on Tuesday night. And tournament favourites Jamaica also logged huge wins on day three. Led by goal-shoot Laurel Browne, who was outstanding with 44 goals from 48 attempts, and goal-attack Olivia Walcott, also good with 22 of her 28 attempts on goal, the Barbadians were ahead 19-8, 37-17 and 50-26 at the quarters. For St Kitts, who remain winless from two outings to date, goal-attack Vanessa Isles sank 26 of 34 goal attempts and shooter Ruth Phillip went seven of eight in her efforts. In the final match, world number three ranked Jamaica, with scoring from goal-shoot Elaine Davis (38/44), goal-attack Simone Forbes (25/30) and Tiffannie Wolfe, whipped St Lucia 74-20. Wolfe, who filled the goal-attack position for part of the match, got 11 goals from 15 tries.

The Jamaicans were never threatened in the hour but captain Oberon Pitterson was not completely satisfied with their performance, and felt they could have done better. “We lapsed quite a few times,” Pitterson said. “We got caught up playing the St Lucian game which was fast and furious and we turned over the ball a lot of times, with a lot of unforced errors, so basically we will have to refocus,” Pitterson added. Shem Maxwell (10/20), Safyia Paul (8/9) and Merlissa Alfred (2/3) did the scoring for St Lucia in a match which they trailed in each of the first three quarters, 4-21, 9-40, 14-55. Action continued yesterday evening with a shooting competition, followed by three matches –-  St Lucia challenging Nevis; Jamaica against title holders St Vincent and the Grenadines; and hosts TT facing Barbados in a battle of undefeated teams.

SCORES:
T&T 61 (GS - Janelle Barker 50/55, GA - Simone Morgan 9/13, GA - Diana Pierre 2/3) bt NEVIS 27 (GS - Latasha Isles 21/22, GA - Dionne Howell 6/16)
Barbados 66 (Laurel Browne 44/48, Olivia Walcott 22/28) bt St Kitts 33 (Vanessa Isles 26/34, Ruth Phillip 7/8)
JAMAICA 74 (GS - Elaine Davis 38/44, GA - Simone Forbes 25/30, GS - Tiffannie Wolfe 11/15/) bt ST LUCIA 20 (GS -Shem Maxwell 10/20, GS - Safyia Paul 8/9, GA - Merlissa Alfred 2/3)