Urban schools claim all-island primary football, netball titles

APPARENTLY SPURRED on by a visit from Chelsea star Raheem Sterling before heading out on Friday, Kingston and St Andrew champions Pembroke Hall Primary School beat a spirited Corinaldi Avenue Primary of St James 1-0 to capture the Insport All-Island Football competition, held at the Discovery Bay Community Centre.

St Patrick’s Primary ensured a clean sweep for the urban teams with a hard-fought 18-15 victory over defending champions Bethabara of Newport, Manchester, to capture the all-island primary schools’ netball crown.

In the play-off for third place, Bridgeport beat Holland 3-1 in football, while in netball, Corinaldi Avenue beat White Horses 13-8.

Each winning team from both competitions pocketed $200,000, second-place, $125,000; third, $75,000 and fourth $50,000.

The winning coaches also got incentives for their work.

The players also benefited from cash incentives from Anthony Warren, who donated US$50 to the winning teams and J$5,000 to the two MVPs.

Sports Minister Olivia Grange, who was on hand to help hand out the prizes, as was St Ann North Western MP Krytsal Lee, congratulated the teams, noting that all were winners.

“Congratulations to Pembroke Hall and St Patrick’s, you’ve done well,” Grange said.

“The others, you’re all winners, the fact that you’re here today,” she added, noting that the competition began in November last year with 200 teams.

In the football final, both teams played well, the youngsters showing skill and an understanding of the game.

Pembroke Hall showed determination and decent defensive organisation to keep their opponents at bay for the better part of the second half, after right winger Nathan Hudson had given them the lead shortly after the interval.

CONFIDENT GOING IN

Pembroke Hall coach, Bjorn Folkes, said his team, captained by a female, Tianna Grant, who was selected MVP after the game, was confident going into the final.

“It was a good game, quite competitive, very tactical. Both teams kind of play the same style, both teams want to pass the ball and it was just a matter of who was able to keep possession and take better care of the ball and with that, we came out on top,” Folkes said.

Folkes said going into the game, the team relied on a system that had worked all season. He said the confidence level of the team was boosted further when Sterling paid them a visit before they left for St Ann.

“It’s a confident bunch; then we had a little boost, we had a very special visitor today, Mr Sterling had passed through today and so the boys came with a real high.”

And with three urban area titles in their possession, St Patrick’s were looking forward to winning their first all-island title, even though they were going up against the defending champions.

Both teams, incidentally, played in the same colours, pink and blue.

St Patrick’s coach, Lecia Walters, was thankful for the victory after a tough game.

“First, I would like to give God thanks for the victory. The game was a very difficult game. It’s the hardest game I’ve played all season; and with the constant rain – it was raining on an off so sometimes we had to come off the court until the rain stops – but it was a good game.

“It is very good, the girls are so proud of themselves and we just feel so good knowing that we’re the all-island champions now.”