Francis By Charmaine Austin,
Staff Reporter
SCINTILLATING, fast-paced action highlighted last Saturday's Berger Senior League netball game between defending champions Waulgrovians and Jamalco at the Leila Robinson courts.
Waulgrovians maintained a hundred percent win record when they convincingly defeated their arch-rivals 58-41.
The game was of a high quality.
Waulgrovians stole Jamalco's first centre pass, but the latter rallied to equalise at 3-3 then take the lead a goal later.
The action went from end to end until Jamalco gained a two-goal lead but stout defending by the eventual winners brought the two teams level (11-11) at the end of the first quarter.
Second quarter action kept the vociferous spectators perched at the edge of their seats in the packed stands facing court one, as the Patrick Brissett-coached side attempted to keep Winston Nevers' determined girls at bay.
The score was locked up until 17-17 as the lead interchanged frequently. Waulgrovians got down to business and scored three unanswered goals before Jamalco were able to get one more in the basket.
Waulgrovians' defence was tight, but not impenetrable as the under-dogs, boosted by the crowd, played a counter-attacking game and pulled within two goals of them with the score at 21-19. At half time Jamalco led 24-19.
Jamalco made a change to their line-up when they sent on Francine Pommells for Winsome Grant at wing attack.
Shooter Simone Forbes scored for Waulgrovians on the resumption and a time-out was called as she hopped to the sidelines with a cramp. This gave her team-mates ample time to regroup.
Playing in a manner similar to the national team in training, Waulgrovians surged to a six-goal lead (26-20). Backed by exceptional mid-court defence the defending champions then carried the lead from 27-21 to 32-21.
Annett Jackson, playing uncharacteristically aggressive, defended stoutly against Connie Francis' skill and experience.
Through Jackson, Neisha Wolfe and Margaret Byfield especially, Waulgrovians were well and truly tested, and with under three minutes left in the third period, held a marginal five goal lead with the score at 36-31.
Brissett scowled from the sidelines, but never looked worried. Nevers smiled and cheered his team encouragement from his end but that was short-lived as Waulgrovians picked up where they left off earlier and commanded a 41-31 lead at the end of this period.
For a while it was not Jamalco against Waulgrovians but rather Francis vs brave defender Annette Jackson.
That aside, they stuck to the task at hand. Jamalco scored 10 additional goals while Waulgrovians netted an additional 17 to win by 17 clear goals.
Shooting for Waulgrovians, Connie Francis netted 41 of 52 attempts while Simone Forbes shot 17 of 22.
For Jamalco, Georgina Hibbert never missed a shot converting all of her 24 attempts. Goal attack Byfield netted 17 of 20 attempts.
