Host country St. Lucia suffered a heart wrenching 42-38 defeat at the hands of USA in the first major upset of the tournament on the very first day of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Qualifiers at the Beausejour indoor facility in St. Lucia. A mere six teams are featured in the tournament vying for the right to attend the world championships next year in Singapore. Jamaica has already qualified. Teams (St. Lucia, Barbados, Canada, USA, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and Trinidad and Tobago)
The Saint Lucia
national netball squad: Merlessa Alfred, Miryam Augustin, Deselva Florton, Glatta Gabriel, Niocse Louis, Shem Maxwell, Judy Mathurin, Dedra Mathurin, Michelle Rodgers, Delia Samuel, Roxanne Synder, and Saphia William; with Rebecca Flemius (manager), Anthony Lamontagne (coach), and Donnalynn Joseph (Assistant Coach).
The USA side allegedly is packed with Jamaicans who played top level netball in their home country. Other nationalities quoted are Australians, Trinidadians and Barbadians. Barbadian Beverley Morris- Giles (a former national netballer) is on the sidelines as Manager (more on the players names later). USA led all the intervals but in the last quarter St. Lucia on two occasions had the opportunity to move ahead but failed to do so.
Barbados had their first victory at a championship under its new coach Alwyn Babb. Starting a little shaky against arch rivals St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Barbados line up featured, Lydia Bishop GS, Nikita Piggott GA, Sabrina Browne (WA), Sabrina (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Latoya (GD) and Lisa Puckerin (GK).
Bishop surprisingly was ordinary, the St. Vincent GK really had an outstanding game. It was Nikata Piggott who was awesome doing all the work outside and transitioning smoothly to the shooting position taking the pressure off Bishop when she clearly appeared frustrated on occasions. It was my first time seeing Sabrina Browne at wing attack and with all the fuss back in Barbados about this position, I would say Barbados is clearly still looking. In this game Sabrina was clearly out of her depth but her little sister Samatha who was her substitute (she went to centre while the other Sabrina went WA) is clearly cut out for top level competition. The defensives were also very outstanding keeping Barbados in the game while the attack tried to sort themselves out.
It was with this change that Barbados demonstrated that they were a cut above St. Vincent easily defeating that team 57-33. The scores at the intervals - 11-10 SVG; 24-21 (B'dos) and 40-25 (B'dos). Barbados scored 6 straight goals after the half time change. A no brainer change if you ask me. (Bishop scored 31 of 39 and Piggott 26 of 31) (SVG Janelle Frank was limited to 14 of 18 and Gaylene Gordon 19 of 24)
The other winner on the night was Trinidad and Tobago who dispatched Canada 48-36.
3 comments:
Thanks for providing coverage of the tournament. I'll be checking this blog regularily for updates!
Rebekah from Canada
Sometimes when you start to do analysis you should begin with yourself. I would appreciate if the writer of the blog would like to hear the true analysis of her umpiring and do something about it. It is time to stop hiding behind the bashing of players who give of their time an effort to represent their country.
Clearly coaching is not your forte and you should spend more time commenting on the standard of umpiring.
Head Coach
What a jaded reporter. With regards to the USA team. It is my understanding that you have to live, work and be a form of national of that country in order to represent them, this goes fo rany nation in the world. So calling them X-pats for want of better words has nothing to do with the price of tea in China now does it? They are AMERICAN players representing the USA.... Try commenting on the netball and not follow such wonderful role models as Ms Rhone.....
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