Orchids on a roll

The St Ann Orchids recorded a nail-biting 39-38 victory over the Clarendon Gaters in round five of the Berger Paints Elite League netball match on Friday night at the Leila Robinson Courts.

The Orchids, who began the season with two straight losses, have now won their last three matches.

National representative Shanice Beckford, with 27 goals from 32 attempts, led the way for The Orchids. Beckford received good support from Kayan Cousins' nine goals from 12 attempts.

The Orchid's coach, Conrod Parks, is not surprised by his team's change in fortune.

"Our girls are working very hard in training and it is now paying off for us," said Parks.

INITIALLY UNSETTLED

"We had combinations that we were working on as a new team, so we were unsettled. Now that the girls have bonded, we have been winning matches," he said.

The Orchids led 21-17 at half time, but the Gaters fought their way back into the game in the third stanza, as their defensive unit, led by national captain Nicole Aiken-Pinnock and former national player Kasey Evering and Tridiane Campbell, shutdown the Orchids shooters while limiting them to just four goals in the period.

Gaters took the lead, 29-25, at the end of the third period, but the Orchids produced a strong fourth quarter surge to clip their rivals.

Kadie-Ann Dehaney top-scored for the Gaters with 30 goals from 35 attempts.

In the day's other games, St James Sharpes defeated defending champions Kingston Hummingbirds, 23-20, and St Catherine Racers beat Manchester Spurs, 39-37.