PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)

Title-holders Barbados slipped Thursday but Jamaica kept their unbeaten record in tact and remained on course to capture the Jean Pierre Under-16 Caribbean Netball Championship.

While Barbados struggled to a 27-27 draw with St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica thrashed hosts Trinidad & Tobago 40-15 to rack up their sixth straight win and install themselves as odds-on favourite to take the title.

The Jamaicans were highly fancied to score another emphatic win over Barbados in the championship decider late last night, based on the manner in which they have dominated this championship. In fact, they needed only a draw against their Eastern Caribbean rivals to secure yet another Under-16 Caribbean title.

In Thursday's match, St. Vincent appeared set to create the biggest upset of the tournament when they led 21-14 at half-time, but they made too many errors and allowed Barbados back into the contest.

Barbados never led in the encounter but twice came within striking distance of taking the lead. On each occasion, St. Vincent responded resiliently. With seconds remaining in the match, SVG had possession but time expired before they could secure the all-important game-winning goal.

Unlike Barbados, Jamaica made no such mistakes against their opponents. Despite being held to their smallest winning margin of the tournament, the taller, more athletic Jamaicans played strongly to totally outplay T&T.

Christina Solomon shot 27 from 29 to lead the Jamaicans with Patricia McCalla weighing in with a perfect 10 from 10. For T&T, Anuola Camejo shot 11 from 18 attempts.

Dominica also registered their names in winners' row with a 32-27 victory over Grenada while St. Lucia got past Antigua & Barbuda 23-13.