Final Day AFNA

The 2010 Americas Federation of Netball Associations Championships in St. Lucia was one of the most competitive thus far. Each team gave a splendid account of themselves and some of the score lines really belied the skill and athleticism displayed on court.

All the teams have improved tremendously even Canada who did not win a game was no walk over, all the teams had to really play them to win.

On the final day, Barbados bounced back from their upset defeat against home team St. Lucia and went about the task of strengthening their goal average against Canada to secure 2nd place in the competition beating out the USA and St. Lucia.

This was made easy by what may have been a fluke for Barbados. With first line goal keeper Lisa Puckerin sidelined by injury, Laurel Browne was

put in this role and she played surprisingly beautifully. Canada was clearly not expecting her height in the circle as they switch out their tall goal shooter Sabrina Versteeg to GA for this game, starting GA Tiffanie Wolfe went to the WA position while Amanda Bonger played goal shooter.

Browne made so many interceptions that it totally released any pressure Canada may have brought to the game upfront. As usual Canada had a strong start, the first quarter score 15-10 in favour of Barbados. Barbados however got progressively stronger while Canada faded, the other intervals scores 29-18 and 45-27 reflected this. Barbados went on to win with a comfortable 60-31 margin.

The starting side for Barbados was Lydia Bishop GS, Nikita Piggott GA, Sabrina Browne WA, Sabrina Smith C, Kizzy Marville WD, Latoya Blackman GD with Browne at GK.

Shooting Stats: Bishop scored 34 of 39 goals for 87% while Piggot had 93% average scoring 26 of her 28 attempts.

For Canada GS Amanda Bonger scored 17 of 27 while Sabrina Verteeg scored 14 of 23.

USA finished 3rd in the competition. In their final game they defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 63-39. USA Goal Shooter, Georgina Hibbert who had an outstanding tournament netted 53 of her 57 attempts while goal attack Petra Williams scored 10 of 12. St. Vincent used a total of five shooters. Gailene Gordon, the starting shooter, netted 15 of 17 goals before she left the position at half time. Mary-Ann Federick had one quarter and she scored 9 of 12. In the last quarter Jasmine Frank scored 3 of 5. Tamara Samuel started at the goal attack position and she netted 9 of 10 goals while substitute Roseclair Hall scored 3 of 6.

Champions Trinidad and Tobago completed a clean sweep of the competition dispatching host country St. Lucia 58-45. The intervals scores all in favour of Trinidad were 14-11, 26-23 and 42-30. Up until half time St. Lucia looked to have a fighting chance however Trinidad switched gears and they did not have the gas to follow.

Shooting stats

Trinidad: Anastacia Wilson (GS) 49 of 52, Joelisa Cooper (GA) 5 fo 7 and substitute GA Janelle Barker 4 of 5.

St. Lucia : Dedra Mathurine (GS) 17 of 19, Shem Maxwell 13 of 15 and substitute GA Merlissa Alfred 15 of 17.