Beaten schoolgirl netball finalists ominous

LAST YEAR’s beaten senior finalists in the Urban ISSA Schoolgirl netball competition, Gaynstead High, were off to a fast start at home on Friday in their opening Zone D encounter against Tivoli Gardens, enjoying 70-2 win.

The match, which was blown off with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter due to heavy rains, saw the Dalton Hinds-coached team playing some exciting netball, led by returning players Kimesha Bernard in mid court, Ajaya Taylor in defence and Daniel Josephs in attack.

In the first quarter, the home team took a commanding 20-0 lead before pumping in 29 more to their opponents’ one in the second quarter to go into the half-time break with a 69-1 advantage.

Both teams scored a goal apiece in the first two minutes of the final quarter before the rains intervened.

Hinds liked the way his charges adapted in their first game of the season.

“I am not concerned about the scores but I like how my players adapted as they were able to execute what they did in training. We want to put ourselves in a good position when we play the tougher games as I expect a very competitive season,” said Hinds.

The coach’s impressions of the ability of the team to execute comes in light of the fact that he has lost eight players from the team that made it to the final a year ago.

In Zone E, Wolmer’s, the beaten junior finalists last year, romped to a 38-3 win over Merle Grove before their seniors got by their opponents 27-20.

In another group of games from the same zone, Vauxhall got by Mona 50-1 in junior action before their seniors closed the deal with a 31-17 victory.

Friday’s results

UNDER 16

Zone D: Innswood 22-22 Bridgeport

Zone E: Papine 50-4 STATHS

Wolmer’s 38-3 Merl Grove

Vauxhall 50-1 Mona

Zone F: St Andrew’s 21-0 Dunoon

UNDER 19

Zone D: Gaynstead 70-2 Tivoli

Zone E: Wolmer’s 27-20 Merl Grove

Vauxhall 31-17 Mona

Zone F: Jose Marti 64-3 Kingston Tech