Dunoon Technical's centre Measha Reid (left) is challenged by St. Hugh's Gail Buchanan during the Colgate/ISSA High Schoolgirls Urban final at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWNA DETERMINED Dunoon Technical team came alive in the dying stages of each half to upset defending champions St. Hugh's High 35-27 in the Colgate/ISSA High Schoolgirls Senior Urban League netball final at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday.
The win gave Dunoon their 13th hold on the Corporate Area crown.
In the Junior Urban final, Charlie Smith Comprehensive defeated pre-game favourites Wolmer's High 20-13 to capture their first junior crown.
The Senior final was the spotlight of the afternoon as both teams were meeting each other in the final for the second consecutive year.
Despite having six out of seven players that have played at the national level the St. Hugh's team led by national Under-16 coach Joan Cargill, created two many errors in the final stanza and fell prey to the slick moving Dunoon side.
"We knew we had a stiff challenge on our hands because St. Hugh's are a very talented team," said coach of Dunoon, C. Lloyd Walker who performs similar duties for Open League side Jetsetters.
The match started out evenly contested as the scores were tied three times in four minutes. After the score was locked at 5-5, St. Hugh's beefed up their defence and capitalised on a number of contact and defensive errors committed by Dunoon to gradually increase their lead - by four goals at one stage.
With St. Hugh's leading 13-9, the game was halted for less than two minutes because of rain drizzles, but this did not deter the form of Dunoon as they hit back in the dying stages of the first half to lead 17-16 at the break.
The second half turned into a ding-dong affair until less than eight minutes remaining in the match.
Dunoon then turned the game into a one-sided affair outplaying their opponents 8-1.
"In the last five minutes they fell back on their fitness because they did not train much. However, I am pleased with their performance," said coach Cargill said.
Third-place playoffs: JUNIORS - Excelsior High defeated Holy Childhood 23-10. SENIORS: Wolmer's defeated Queen's 36-33.
