Wednesday 21, April-2004

by Pamala Proverbs

Defending Division One netball champions C.O.Williams Rangers continued their championship hunt on Monday night at the Netball Stadium defeating ly-promoted Banks Spurs 57-24 in a one-sided affair.

Rangers claimed all the intervals 15-8, 27-12 and 38-20. But despite being beaten, Spurs looked ready for the premier league, their major downfall being not having a dominant shooter able to convert attempts into goals.

Rangers on the other hand looked their clinical best, absorbing the early defensive pressure from the Bayland team and converting their attempts despite some good defensive work and close marking by Chekivah Shepherd at goal defence and goal-keeper, Rainee Cyrus.

The defending champions established their dominance from the first quarter. Playing with five players fresh from the world tournament in Jamaica last year – Cheryl Squires (goal shooter), Olivia Walcott (goal attack), Dionne Quarless (wing attack), Don Small (centre), and Rhe-ann Niles goal keeper – they made no bones of their mission which was to obliterate the inexperienced Spurs side.

Spurs had no firepower to match what was actually a Barbados national line-up on the attack. The players, however, tried to out-muscle Rangers, especially Kay Darlington who started at wing defence and played with much aggression, having to be warned at one point by the umpire.

With Cheryl Piggott and Colleen Griffith having little success in the shooting circle for Spurs, coach Sandrene Best made some sweeping changing in the third quarter which saw Darlington moving to goal shooter. Grifith went to wing attack and Piggott to goal attack. The wing attack, Andrea Jordan, went to centre and Tricia Payne shifted to wing defence.

These changes appeared to catch Rangers off guard. Rangers defences Niles and goal defence Sherry Martindale, had to work hard to stop a number of high aerial passes intended for the shooters. This Spurs spurt wasable to limit Rangers to just 11 goals in the quarter and Spurs scored eight, the most scored any quarter.

Rangers bounced back in the final quarter with some good defensive play and accurate passing, especially from Walcott and Small which brought the spectators alive and stifled Spurs to just four goals.

Spurs’ goalkeeper, however, made a delightful interception to break up the Rangers’ groove with just about two minutes to go which seem to serve as a warning that there might be great things to expect from Bank Spursas the relatively young team develops.

Unfortunately, her shooter was not able to convert. They finished with substandard figures.

Griffith in her two quarters scored 7 of 11 while her replacement Darlington netted 4 of 7. The veteran player on the side Piggott who is no stranger to Division One, having played for a number of clubs at this level and is a former national player, scored 13 of 21.

The Rangers’ shooters were by far more accurate. Squires, known for her deadly accuracy, did not disappoint scoring 37of 40 while Walcott netted 20 of 27.

Rangers come up against knock out champions Pine Hill St Barnabas on Friday night in the biggest match up of the season, as both these powerhouses are unbeaten.

Compliments of Nation News

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