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.

Day 4 AFNA Qualifiers

Home team St. Lucia dealt Barbados a knock-out 53-50 punch that has Barbados in jeopardy of missing a netball world championship for the first time due to not qualifying which would be a major set back in its world ranking. (President of the Barbados Netball Association, Octavia Gibson's reaction at the end of the game says it all.)

Playing at the Beausejour indoor facilities, Barbados posted another new line up which featured: Lydia Bishop (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Sabrina Smith (WA), Kizzy Marville (C), Tonisha Rock-Yaw (WD), Latoya Blackman (GD) and Lisa Puckerin at (GK). Barbados got out of the blocks early taking the first quarter 11-9. St. Lucia however went into another gear from the second quarter to which Barbados faltered in their response. Shakira Shepherd came into the game in the second quarter for Rock-Yaw who needed a time out. While Barbados adjusted, St. Lucia went into half time with an inspired 25-20 lead.

The third quarter saw more changes from Barbados. Samantha Browne was introduced at (WA) and she later changed with Kizzy to take up the centre position. Barbados was able to pull back 29-29 with this combination but did not have the fire power to go ahead. St. Lucia again taking over and finishing the third quarter with a three goal lead 37-34.

Everybody expected Barbados to make a grand come back in the final quarter like they did against the USA but this time the players on court did not have the depth to pull it off.

With Latoya out of the game Barbados finished with Shepherd at GD and Rock Yaw at WD. At the front too Piggott gave way to Nadia Blackman at GA. The sheer newness of this combination beat Barbados as they had no history to fall back on when the going got tough and the pressure was at its most intense. The players fought valiantly to the end but clearly the wrong combination of players were on court.

Shooting stats:

Lydia Bishop netted 29 of 35 , Nikita Piggott - 18 of 19 and Nadia Blackman scored a perfect 3 of 3.

For St Lucia: Deidre Maithurin scored 32 of 33 while Shem Maxwell scored 21 goals from 21 attempts.

When these two teams last met at the AFNA tournament in 2008 Barbados easily dispatched St. Lucia 54-35. St. Lucia scored another big victory against Barbados in 2001 in a Connie Francis coached side.

Results of other games played on Day 4 were:

St. Vincent & The Grenadines won against Canada 52-48
Trinidad & Tobago defeated the USA 49-34

Trinidad and Tobago will finish on top of the table today even if home country St. Lucia is able to pull another upset victory out of the bag. The second place team and the other team to qualify will be decided after the games today.

Gibson new AFNA Secretary

Congratulations to the President of the Barbados Netball Association, Octavia Gibson for being returned as Americas Federation of Netball Associations Regional Representative. She was also elected as AFNA Secretary at the AFNA, Annual General Meeting held yesterday in St Lucia.