St Catherine, Gaynstead firm favourites to reach urban senior netball final

The senior semi-finals of the ISSA urban schoolgirls’ netball competition will be played today at 3 p.m. at the Leila Robinson Courts with defending champions St Catherine High and 2021 champions Gaynstead High the overwhelming favourites to advance to next week’s final.

St Catherine will face Jose Marti High while Gaynstead will oppose Norman Manley High.

Led by their outstanding goal shooter Kellian Hunter, goal attack Asharee Thomas, wing defence Tareisha Bell and goal keeper Kaydene Gordon, the Phyllis Thompson-coached St Catherine High should easily get past their Spanish Town neighbours Jose Marti.

“The girls have been clinical all season and I expect another good performance once again from them. I am very confident that they will win and defend their title,” said a confident Thompson.

Jose Marti’s coach Phillip Pinnock is confident his team will be at their best for today’s encounter.

“This is the third year in a row our senior team has reached this stage of the competition. I am banking on the class of captain Tamera Jarrett, the experience of Deandre Edwards and the grit of Ashawna Sibbles to take us over the edge. We are yet to display our best performance. We must remain perfect for 48 minutes to achieve our goal,” said Pinnock .

The Dalton Hinds-coached Gaynstead have been brilliant all season, and after defeating their opponents 44-24 in preliminary round action a few weeks ago, it will take something extraordinary from the Wayne Wallace-coached Norman Manley to turn the tables.

Gaynstead, led by national under-21 development players Daniella Josephs at goal attack and goal keeper Crystal Nicholson, are expected to register another big win over their opponents, but coach Hinds is still very cautious ahead of the game.

“What happened in the past is history as both teams will now start from zero and I am taking it one game at a time. This is a semi-final game and both teams will be hungry for the win. However, I do expect my team to win as the girls have been excellent in both defence and attack all season,” Hinds said.

“It is going to be very difficult to beat Gaynstead as they are an excellent team, but we are coming to give it our best shot,” said Wallace, who stated that he has inserted three players from the junior team in their bid for a better performance against their opponents.

The juniors will take the court at 2 p.m for their semi-final games. Jose Marti will take on Wolmer’s Girls while The Queen’s School will battle defending champions St Hugh’s High.