ISSA netball: Unbeaten Denbigh ease into quarterfinals

DENBIGH HIGH School’s junior and senior netball teams are through to the quarterfinals of the ISSA rural schoolgirls netball competition after victories on Thursday at G.C. Foster College in their set of second-round matches.

In what was the penultimate set of games before next Wednesday’s quarterfinals, the juniors recorded two wins and the seniors one, as both teams remained unbeaten this season and topped their respective groups.

Beaten finalists last year in the senior category – where they lost to Holmwood Technical – the Winston Nevers–coached Denbigh senior team did not have things their own way despite defeating Dinthill Technical 35-26. It took a strong fourth-quarter performance to finally pull away from Dinthill.

Denbigh started well, taking a 12–5 first-quarter lead. However, the St Catherine-based Dinthill dominated the second quarter, outscoring Denbigh 12-8 as the Clarendon-based school team went into the half-time break with a slim 20-17 advantage.

Both teams scored four goals in the third quarter, with Denbigh entering the final period ahead 24-21. In the fourth quarter, they regained control, scoring 11 goals to Dinthill’s four to secure a nine-goal victory.

It was much easier for the Denbigh junior team, the pre-season favourites. They first blew away St Mary Technical 40-3 before closing out with a 26-18 victory over Dinthill to pick up their fourth win of the round.

Mile Gully High’s seniors also remained unbeaten in the second round after a 41-11 win over Titchfield High, followed by a 30-30 tie with Old Harbour High. Old Harbour also scored a 36-7 win over Central High, while in another senior match on the day, Titchfield defeated Iona High 26-11.

Junior results

Bishop Gibson 26-18 Titchfield

Titchfield 19-11 Iona

Bishop Gibson 34-7 Old Harbour

Dinthill 25-6 St Mary Technical

- Raymond Graham