Orchids, Spurs to clash in Elite League finals

St Ann Orchids and Manchester Spurs will meet in the best of three finals of the Netball Jamaica Seprod Elite League set for April 14, 16, and 21.

The Orchids defeated the Spurs 65-49 in their final preliminary-round match at the National Arena yesterday to clinch their place in the final ahead of Kingston Hummingbirds and St Catherine Racers.

The Spurs had earlier booked their spot in the finals after topping the preliminary round of the league.

St Ann Orchids’ coach Kurt Dale said their victory was well deserved.

“Today was a really good performance and an indication that what we have been working on is actually making sense,”

Yesterday St Ann Orchids took an early lead over the Spurs and were two goals ahead, 16-14, at the end of the first quarter.

They extended that lead to six at the end of the first half to go into the break at 30-24.

Manchester Spurs tried hard in the third quarter to come back on terms with the leaders, but the Orchids still held a five-goal lead, 46-41, at the end of the third quarter.

It was all Orchids in the fourth quarter as they outscored their opponents 19-8.

Orchids’ Sabrina Spence led the way for the winners with 40 goals from 44 attempts.

Her teammate, goal keeper, Roxonna McLean, was named player of the match.

Manchester Spurs coach Rasheed Joseph said his team did not perform to the best of their ability in yesterday’s match and he is still confident that they will top the league.

“There were multiple errors that we kept repeating over and over again,” Joseph said. “Still confident and the best thing about losing this game is that it gives us a chance to go and work on our weak spots.”