By Charmaine Austin, Staff ReporterDEFENDING champions Jamaica go in search of another victory when they take on Barbados in their second game of the Caribbean Netball Association under-16 tournament in Grenada this afternoon.
Accurate shooting and stout defending piloted the Jamaicans to a 52-9 victory over Guyana in their opening game yesterday but team manager Arlene Findlay expects a more competitive match today.
"Tomorrow's (today's) game will be a lot tougher but we hope to win. Playing against Barbados will be our toughest hurdle although we expect to get a challenge from St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago as well," Findlay said.
The Jamaicans defeated Barbados 7-4 to win the opening rally on Saturday but expect a tougher fight today.
Added Findlay: "It is always difficult to judge a team's performance from a rally because the games are shorter and different strategies are used. Jamaica didn't look so bad so we should come out on top again."
In yesterday's game meanwhile, the young Jamaicans showed their class over Guyana despite minor injury to some players.
Jamaica led 14-5 at the end of the first quarter, 23-6 at half time then 36-9 at the end of the third period.
Starting defenders Kerri-Ann Brown and Peta-Gaye Thomas shut down the opposition who got no goal and no chance to score in the last quarter.
In the shooting statistics, Danielle Lowers had a perfect nine from nine attempts, Kadian Mendes 18 from 19, Deidre-Ann Coleman 18 from 22 and TaraWilson seven from 11 tries.
"They got away with nine. That was too much. It was a good game though. We stuck to the game plan by attacking well and defending well and as expected won the game," Findlay said.
On Sunday Dominica dumped the Turks & Caicos Islands 48-5 to record the tournament's biggest win.
The Dominicans led their Group B match 25-2 at the half and coasted to their 43-goal win, joining hosts Grenada and Barbados in winners' row on day one at the Tanteen Sports Complex.
Goal shoot Denese George scored 35 goals from 43 attempts to lead Dominica's scoring, supported by Shakimar Augustine (13/20).
Barbados, runners-up in the first two years of the tournament, 1998 and 1999, controlled their Group A game against St. Kitts to win 34-18.
Grenada outplayed Guyana for a 30-11 triumph after holding big quarterly leads of 8-1, 16-5, 24-8 in another Group A fixture.
