SOME SPECTATORS at the Netball Stadium on Sunday evening for a celebrity netball match seemed to have been expecting the MADD Insane Ballers to win, but instead they appeared out of wind, losing 39-49 to the BWU All Stars 12.
The match, part of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) 75th anniversary celebrations, was organised by the netball committee, led by Mary Vaughan. The crowd, who were for the most part on the edge of their seats with excitement, was said to be the biggest since the beginning of the tournament last month.
BWU stole possession and scored two goals before MADD were able to secure their first. Goalkeeper for the celebrity team, former Barbados basketball captain Dwight Rouse, fumbled many goals before he took charge of the scoring.
Dwight Rouse (right) trying to block a shot from Latonia Blackman as sister Nadia Blackman looks on.
Queen Archibull Cox [Eric Lewis] was definitely the star of the game. Each time the Queen took possession of the ball or intercepted a pass, it sent the crowd into a frenzy.
At the end of the first quarter the score was 11-9 in favour of BWU. However the MADD Insane Ballers rallied to draw level by the end of the second (18-18).
PC Broomes [Keith Browne] flew onto the court at the end of the third quarter, creating a further stir among the crowd. He showed them what he was capable of, by stealing the ball and scoring. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, he took over as goalkeeper. His defence was on point, as he blocked many balls
Despite their best efforts, however, the celebrities did not have the firepower to overcome the BWU All Stars.
The Best Goal Defence award went to Rouse, while BWU’s Latonya Blackman was Best Goal Shoot and Deroni Hurley Best Midcourt Player. (RA)