COMBERMERE PROVED that the Springer Memorial girls are not invincible by crushing them 10-3 and claiming their first Under-13 schools’ netball crown at the Netball Stadium yesterday.
The nerves seemed to have affected both teams in the first half as the ball was being kept and lost in centre court. The half ended with the Waterford lasses holding a slim 3-1 lead.
However, Combermere came out in the second half and began to show the work which they had put in over the last three terms under coach Sonia Knight.
Combermere outplayed Springer in every facet of the game as they demonstrated a greater resolve to win.
They also out-muscled their opponents, with goal shoot Donika Payne using her size and skills to get the ball and sink four of seven shots.
Shaniqua Thomas – the eventual MVP – showed why she was good enough to make the Barbados Under-16 team, scoring six of ten at goal attack.
Springer’s goal shoot Shanice Evelyn landed just one of three shots, while goal attack Kadijah Domingo was limited to just two-of-six shooting.
Springer’s coach Julie Phillips conceded that her team was outplayed.
Dawn Waldron of Combermere could not praise coach Knight enough, saying that the coach was committed even during the second term, which is normally an athletics term.
“Playing together as a unit and ignoring the name of who we were playing while focusing on what was needed to be done was the key to our winning,” Waldron said.
“The girls feel great elation and joy as this is our first netball title in over 15 years, and winning a netball title at Combermere is a rare and great achievement.” (KB)
