Wolmer’s topple defending champs in nail-biting schoolgirls’ netball match

WITH TWO sets of matches to go in the second round of this season’s Urban ISSA Schoolgirls’ Netball competition, group leaders Gaynstead, St Jago, Norman Manley, and St Catherine high schools still have 100 per cent winning records following action at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday.

However, it was a different story among the juniors, with defending champions St Hugh’s suffering their first defeat in two years.

In a top-of-the-table Group 1 clash, Wolmer’s Girls’ School clipped the defending champions 16-15.

Wolmer’s led 3-1, 8-4, and 14 -7 after the first three quarters and looked likely to score a big win, however, they had to fight hard in the final quarter to sustain a big fightback from the defending champions.

The Nardia Hanson-coached defending champions outscored Wolmer’s 8-2 in that final quarter but ran out of clock.

In senior Group 1 action, Gaynstead and St Jago had easy victories over St Hugh’s and St Andrew to lead the group with six points each.

Gaynstead stopped their opponents 45-15, while St Jago’s dream run in the competition continued after easily turning back St Andrew 39-13.

Gaynstead, led by good attacking plays from goal attack Danielle Joseph, wing attack Kimeisha Bernard, and centre Jamaila Brown were too good for their opponents. They went into a quick 14-4 lead after the first quarter and added 11 more goals before the half-time break to lead 25-7. They maintained their dominance for the next two quarters for their easy win.

Gaynstead coach Dalton Hinds was happy for the win ahead of their big clash with St Jago next Wednesday.

“It is always good to be in the win column, and the girls are enjoying the competition. We just have to go back and prepare ahead of the St Jago game as they are a ‘hype’ team, and it is just about containing them,” said Hinds.

In Group 2, St Catherine had an impressive 50-17 victory over a hapless Camperdown. Camperdown are yet to win a game.

TOP TEAMS

St Catherine are joined on top of the group by Norman Manley, who stopped Immaculate Conception 26-18.

José Martí stayed close to the top in Group 1, bouncing back after their defeat to St Catherine on Monday with a big 50-16 win over Tarrant High to be on four points.

In the other senior match on the day, in Group 2, Bridgeport made it back-to-back wins after defeating Campion 39-18. In their first game of the round, Bridgeport had the unfortunate situation of having a player fall ill against St Catherine, leaving them without enough players to complete the game, forcing a forfeit.

Both Jose Marti and the Queen’s School remained perfect among junior teams after wins yesterday.

Jose Marti stopped Norman Manley 27-18 and Queen’s got by Campion 28-14, both keeping pace atop Group 2 with six points.

In other junior matches yesterday, Immaculate got the better of Clan Carthy, 21-14, and St Jago were too good for Camperdown, with an easy 28-9 win.

The penultimate set of matches in the round will continue next Wednesday at the same venue.