St Hugh’s off to fast start in ISSA schoolgirl netball

ST HUGH’S High School enjoyed a perfect start to their Urban ISSA Schoolgirl Netball campaign, defeating Ardenne High School in under-16 and under-19 action at the school yesterday.

The junior team, led by national under-16 player Kheresha Peccoo, stopped their Ardenne counterparts 39-4, while the seniors also showed dominance, winning 27-8.

Goal attack Tiarra Bravo and goal shooter Kherine Peccoo had things their own way, enjoying quarterly scores of 8-1,15-3, and 17-4 before their 27-8 result.

In the junior encounter, young Peccoo stamped her authority very early, looking a cut above her peers with excellent passing, finding teammates Shavel Martin at centre and goal shooter Danielle Doyley with ease.

With Peccoo and Doyley bang on target inside the goal circle, the team rushed to a 10-2 first quarter lead before closing out the half with a comfortable 18-3 lead.

The remainder of the game provided the same story as St Hugh’s piled on the pressure, relegating Ardenne to just two goals in two quarters.

Coach Nardia Hanson had mixed feelings despite the lopsided scorelines.

“Our senior team could have done much better. It was an easy game and they played like their opponents,” said Hanson.

“I am pleased with the performance of the juniors. I did not get enough time to work with them due to national duties, but I like what I saw and I will use these early games to get the right combinations so the team can blossom,” said Hanson.

In other opening-round games yesterday, defending senior champions St Catherine High got off to a blistering start in their Zone C encounter at home, swamping Holy Trinity 83-0.

In junior action in Zone A, Immaculate Conception got by Excelsior 21-13 while, in Zone B junior action, Norman Manley easily defeated Tarrant 38-6.

The urban-area competition will continue tomorrow with last year’s respective junior and senior beaten finalists, Wolmer’s Girls’ and Gaynstead.

In Zone ‘E’, Wolmer’s, who lost to The Queen’s School in the junior final, will be at home to Merl Grove.

The Dalton Hinds-coached Gaynstead, who were beaten in the final last year by St Catherine, will start their campaign in a Zone D encounter at home to Tivoli at 3:30 p.m.

Tomorrow’s Games

Zone D

Innswood vs Bridgeport

Gaynstead vs Tivoli

Zone E

Wolmer’s vs Bridgeport

Papine vs St Andrew Technical

Zone F

José Martí vs Kingston Technical

St Andrew High vs Dunoon Technical

Mona vs Vauxhall