St Catherine High 'oozing' confidence

WHEN the third set of matches in the second round of the Urban area of the ISSA Schoolgirl Netball Competition gets under way today at the Leila Robinson Courts, all eyes will be on Gaynstead High School and St Catherine High School, as both will be involved in mega junior and senior clashes in Group 1 encounters.

At 2:15 p.m., the junior teams of both schools will take the court, while at 3 p.m. it will be the turn of the seniors, as it will be a clash of unbeaten teams. The junior match will be a repeat of last year's final, where the Phyllis Thompson-coached girls surprised their opponents to win the title for the first time.

This will be some revenge for the Dalton Hinds-coached Gaynstead team, as both teams have won their two matches so far. Gaynstead juniors got the better of St Hugh's 39-19 and Bridgeport 38-16, while St Catherine got by Wolmer's 27-21 and Jose Marti 38-16.

It is a similar affair among the seniors, with both teams coming off two wins. Gaynstead, who were beaten finalist last year, stopped Jose Marti 38-3 and Meadowbrook 42-12. St Catherine, who finished third last year, have so far defeated Holy Childhood 39-31 and Jose Marti 69-11.

A win here is very crucial for both teams as the winner will avoid playing favourites and defending champions The Queen's School in the semi-finals, as the Christopher Smart coached team looks well set to top Group 2.

Thompson is very confident of turning back Gaynstead, although she thinks the games will be very competitive. "It is going to be very competitive as they will be coming for revenge, as we beat them in the junior finals last year. However my team is ready for the challenge and the girls are oozing confidence," Thompson said.

In another important clash today among the seniors in Group 2, defending champions Excelsior will take on Queen's in a clash of unbeaten teams, as both won their first two matches, but the Mountain View-based team looks set to get the better of the Marvette Anderson-coached outfit and continue their unbeaten run since last year.

 

Today's games

 

JUNIORS

- Camperdown vs St Hugh's 1:30 p.m.

- Merl Grove vs Ardenne 1:30 p.m.

- Bridgeport vs Wolmer's 1:30 p.m.

- Jose Marti vs St Jago 1:30 p.m.

- St Catherine vs Gaynstead 2:15 p.m.

- Norman Manley vs Queen's 2:15 p.m.

SENIORS

- Meadowbrook vs Holy Childhood 2:15 p.m.

- Jose Marti vs St Andrew Technical 3:00 p.m.

- St Catherine vs Gaynstead 3:00 p.m.

- Merl Grove vs Ardenne 3:00 p.m.

- Excelsior vs Queen's 3:15 p.m.

- Camperdown vs St Andrew 3:15 p.m.