Pine Hill Dairy St Barnabas are the double-crown queens of division one netball.
The repeat knockout champions added the league title with a masterful 44-29 victory over the 2013 winner C.O. Williams Rangers when the Division One season climaxed on Friday night at the Netball Stadium.
In a game watched by a big crowd and plagued by numerous turnovers by both teams, six-footer Laurel Browne enjoyed a great night as goal shooter, sinking 34 goals from 44 attempts for St Barnabas. Sheniqua Thomas supported well with 10 from 15, particularly in the pivotal third quarter as St Barnabas closed out Rangers.
Unfortunately, Rangers did not compensate for their poor handling of the ball in centre court as the defending champions struggled to find a supporting shooter for Nikita Piggott, whose game was also below par.
Piggott scored 21 of 27 while three other attackers used by Rangers, Nikita President (4-10), Vanessa Reid Cox (4-8) and Shakeena Rock (0-1) failed to impress.
Rangers started with Piggott and President in the circle, Tyneisha Rowe, Sabreena Smith and Natasha Birkett-Sealy in centre court while in the absence of an injured Janelle Sealy, Rhe-Ann Niles played goal defence while Adrianne Bynoe played goal keeper.
Although Niles was tremendous roaming the court to make many spectacular interceptions, she was often in midcourt as Browne made mincemeat of Bynoe, particularly in the first quarter when she scored all eight of the points for St Barnabas.
Niles would later interchange with Bynoe and Birkett-Sealy as goal keeper, with Birkett-Sealy showing the aggression and experience to at least pose a threat to Browne.
St Barnabas started with Browne and Thomas in attack, the powerful Shonette Bruce and never- say-die Jeneice Clarke in defence with Cherise Seale, young Vanessa Bobb and Samantha Browne controlling the centre court.
Except for a swap of positions between Samantha Browne and Seale, St Barnabas played the same seven which carried them from an eight-all first quarter to leads of 20-15 and 31-20 to the eventual blowout as Rangers gave up in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
Rangers had actually led 8-5 in the first quarter and it was only in the early stages of the second quarter that Rangers gained their ninth goal as St Barnabas rattled off eight straight goals to surge to 13-8.
The same pattern would follow, with Rangers later getting within two goals,15-13, but thereafter they never reduced the lead which swelled, thanks to Browne and Thomas who hit down long-range bombs.
St Barnabas coach Julie Phillips said: “Their line-up worked in our favour but I believe that our girls wanted it more and they worked really hard. “Throughout the season our team and circle defence were outstanding, which made up for the passing and catching errors which created moments of uncertainty.”
Sandra Bruce-Small coach of Rangers pointed to the absence of Sealy which affected her defence.
“But, you cannot take away the victory from St Barnabas who played really well. Our girls wanted it but it just was not to be,” said Bruce-Small.
The UWI Blackbirds took the second spot with Rangers ending third and Guardian Pride of Villa fourth.
Other Results:
Division Four Bico Delight defeated Market Hill 36-16
BRC Welch Rovers defeated Potential Ballers 29-17
Brydens Anchors defeated PHD St Barnabas 24-16
Division Six Police Girls Club defeated Beverley Hill 26-13
