Barbados/Jamaica

St. John’s Antigua/Friday April 11, 2008/Pamala Proverbs

Barbados U16 netballers moved down two notches in rank to place 4th overall in the Caribbean Netball Association Jean Pierre Under 16 competition which concluded on Friday night at the YMCA, St. Johns Antigua.

Handsomely defeated 43-19 by powerhouse Jamaica, who were unbeaten in the tournament, the Bajans however showed some grit but were clearly outclassed by a very skilled Jamaican side. The interval scores were 9-5, 17-7 and 33-14 all in Jamaica’s favour.

Jamaica’s major weapon in the competition has been the 6ft 9ins goal shooter Marvadene Anderson who has been virtually impossible to mark since the average height of the defences in the competition is about 5ft 8ins. While the top teams have been able to match them in open court, there has been virtually no contest in the shooting circle.

The most effective defence against Anderson was St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s high jumping goal keeper Tonique Bowen who was one of the most effective keepers in the tournament. St. Vincent were able to limit Jamaica to their lowest score of the competition 34 to their 19 (19 being the highest number of goals scored against Jamaica’s very defensive side).

On the night Barbados’ starting line up was Shannon Hackett (GS), Rieah Holder (GA), Crystal Brathwaite (WA), Danissa Foster (C ), Shakola Herbert (WD), Jeneice Clarke (GD) and Markayla Yearwood (GK) to Jamaica’s Marvadean Anderson (GS), Deneen Taylor (GA), Samantha Whyte (WA), Shantel Campbell (C ), Sharesha Richards (WD), Vangelee Williams (GD), and Ashley Henry (GK).

Barbados started well, at one stage the scores were as close as 5-6 (Jamaica) which got the spectators involved in the game from early. Their attacking woe, feeding the ball to shooters again raised its ugly head and Jamaica was able to build an unbeatable momentum.
At half time Shaneisha Evelyn (C ) and Shanice Jarvis (WA) were introduced to the game. Evelyn had an excellent final half directing her team’s attack, and getting the better of Jamaica’s very defensive centre Shantel Campbell.

Her spunk helped her team to hold possession of the ball for long periods even although they were restricted in the goal circle. This contributed to Jamaica having just 11 attempts to Barbados’ 6 in the final quarter. A contributor to this was also the fact that Jamaica introduced a regular height shooter in Alana Chambers into the game in the final quarter.


Barbados’ captain Jeneice Clarke arguably the best goal defence in the competition was again in top form. She made her presence felt on court against another top player in Jamaica’s goal attack Deneen Taylor who scored 14 of 16. Goal shooter Marvadene Anderson scored 22 of 29 before she left the game and substitute Taylor made good 7 of 8.

The Barbadian shooters were totally outclassed, the two who are both under fifteens will have a change to learn from this competition and come again next year. Although their performance was not very strong on court they demonstrated their shooting class winning the shooting competition the day before and Hackett was judged the most accurate shooter in that competition.

Against Jamaica she was limited to 18 attempts of which she scored 12 and Rieah Holder contributed 7 of 8.

In other games Trinidad and Tobago ensured a second place finish in the competition defeating Antigua and Barbuda 38-13, St. Vincent finished third defeating St. Lucia 27 to 21 and Dominica defeated Grenada 29-18 in the bottom of the table game, to record their first victory of the tournament.