Barbados made a predictable clean sweep of the Goodwill Netball Series against St Lucia by topping the visitors 42-33 in the third and final match on Friday night at the Netball Stadium.
While St Lucia, who are ranked 15th in the world, put up a tremendous fight to end the series with their pride intact after suffering a mauling in the first two games, Barbados seemed focused on providing game time to various combinations.
Coaches Anna Shepherd and Sandra Bruce-Small started with what must be considered the most experienced seven – Laurel Browne at goal shooter, Nikita Piggott at goal attack, Sabreena Smith, wing attack, captain Latonia Blackman, centre, Rhe-Ann Niles, wing defence, Jeneice Clarke, goal defence and the intimidating Shonette Bruce, goalkeeper.
Bruce and Clarke were brutal in the defence circle with the few balls that escaped Blackman, Niles and Smith and while St Lucia failed to score in the first six minutes of the first quarter, Browne and Piggott fired the Bajans to a 9-0 lead. At the end of that first quarter, Barbados were in charge 14-3.
Although St Lucia showed great resolve in outscoring Barbados 11-8 in the third quarter, the hosts kept ahead in every quarter, 14-3, 27-10 and 35-21 before wrapping up the series 42-33.Â
Some game time was handed to Shonica Wharton, Sheniqua Thomas, Samantha Browne, Kizzy Marville, Shanice Rock, Damisha Croney and Shannon Hackett, who could all feature in the warm-up tour to Jamaica next month.
Browne scored 18 goals from 20 attempts while Wharton came on in the fourth quarter to score a perfect five goals. Piggott score nine of 15, Hackett five of seven and Thomas sank five of ten. Shem Maxwell was outstanding at goal shoot for St Lucia, hitting 26 of 34, with Janva Hippolyte adding seven of ten.
Coach Shepherd indicated that while ninth-ranked Barbados won the series with expected ease, the matches would have provided management with a view of where the players were in terms of fitness and combinations and what needed to be worked on.
Barbados and St Lucia will be taking part in the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July, and the Bajans will also play in the world qualifiers in Calgary in August.
