Schoolgirl netball coaches cautious ahead of finals

AFTER SOME three months of intense competition, the top junior and senior urban and rural high school netball teams will be crowned today in the ISSA schoolgirl competition at the Leila Robinson netball courts.

The junior teams will be in action first.

At 2 p.m., defending champions, Holmwood Technical, will take on Manchester High in the rural finals, while new champions will be crowned in the urban final at 3 p.m. when The Queen’s School take on Wolmer’s Girls’.

Defending senior champions Glenmuir will battle Holmwood Technical in the rural final at 4 p.m. while at 5 p.m., defending urban champions St Catherine are up against 2021 champions Gaynstead.

The coaches of the respective teams are cautiously optimistic about their chances of walking away with the respective titles.

After their upset win over the red-hot Denbigh in Tuesday’s semi-final, coach of Manchester Simone Smith is hoping that her side can continue their giant-killing ways and dethrone the defending champions.

“Once my girls turn up in the same frame of mind like they did on Tuesday, I expect them to win, although they will have to play twice as hard,” said Smith, who is hoping that goal defence Alia Morgan and goal-attack Britany Daley can have a super game like they did on Tuesday.

Coach Carline Graham-Powell thinks her young Holmwood team is gelling at the right moment.

“I am extremely proud of my young team, which is gelling at the right time.

“As they did on Tuesday against Glenmuir, I expect another good performance, which I hope will be good enough to retain their title,” said Graham-Powell, who is banking on goal attack Reneica Jones to continue her hot shooting form.

HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS

In the urban final, it will be attack vs defence, with Wolmer’s very good at the former, and Queen’s, the latter. It has been a long time since either team has been in a final, and both will be hungry for success.

Wolmer’s charge will be led by goal shooter Kaelyn Kendra Smith, centre Gabriella Graham, and goalkeeper Ashley Kentish.

“I am very excited for my girls. Once they stay focused, they can go all the way. Most of them are coming from the under-14 team, which did well last year. Queen’s is a good team, so I expect a great match,” said Wolmer’s coach, Tracy-Ann Griffiths.

“It has been a long time since Queen’s has been in this position. We want the trophy, and as long as they bring out what they practise in training, I am very confident they can win,” said Queen’s coach, Marvette Anderson.

Graham-Powell will be hoping for a good afternoon for her seniors as well.

“Glenmuir are the defending champions and definitely they are coming all out to retain their title. My team started a bit slow on Tuesday, but with a few changes, they lifted their performances late. I expect a better start from them,” said Graham-Powell.

Graham-Powell welcomed back vice-captain Jessica Chaplain, who had her first match on Tuesday since the second round when she broke her arm.

Goal attack Jada Ricketts is also key for the Holmwood coach.

Glenmuir coach Ryan Reid will be buoyed in his attempt to defend his title against Holmwood by the return of a few charges who were out of Tuesday’s semi-final on account of illness.

READY FOR FINALS

“We are in a good mood going into the finals. We had a few players out in the semi-final due to illness, but they are back for the final. We are coming all out to defend our title as the girls are gelling well. We have seen Holmwood, and we know what they have to offer,” said Reid.

Reid will be banking on the experience of goal attack Nickeisha Powell and goal defence Fentonian Henry to help carry his team to victory.

Both coaches in the urban final, Dalton Hinds of Gaynstead and Phyllis Thompson of defending champions, St Catherine, were tight-lipped.

“Our expectation is to win every game we play, and I am just taking it one game at a time,” said Hinds. Their top players are goal attack Daniella Joseph, goal defence Faith Gordon, and goal shooter Tisheena Roach.

“We are defending champions, and I expect the girls to go out there and execute. Once they do that, I expect them to win and retain their title,” said Thompson.

Goal shooter Kellion Hunter, goal defence Asharee Thomas, and goalkeeper Kaydean Gordon are expected to carry the fight for the defending champions.

Today will also see third-place playoff matches. In rural junior action at noon, Denbigh will meet Glenmuir, and in urban action, José Martí are up against St Hugh’s.

In rural senior action at 1 p.m., May Day play Denbigh. In the urban game, José Martí will face Norman Manley.