LAUDERHILL – The final game of the 2006 Caribbean National Weekly Netball League was played at the Lauderhill Sport Park on Saturday August 26, 2006.
In a match that promised at times to be a major upset, Seven-Strikers took to the court and played a very deliberate brand of netball against the veteran Tropical Nets, the 2005 league second place team.
A normally lethal combination of shooters, Annette Payne and Karren Clarke, Goal Shooter and Goal Attack respectively for Nets, did not have their best shooting day. To the obvious frustration of Clarke, Payne did not seem prepared to adjust her position to receive the ball, as she was quite often sandwiched by Frederica Thomas and Charmaine Young, the defenders for Seven-Strikers.
Nets held a two-point lead after the first quarter – 13 to 11. In the second quarter Nets was only able to produce 9 points to Strikers’ 7 and the half ended 22 to 18, still in favor of Nets. Seven-Strikers came out with much fervor in the third quarter, and by the time Nets realized what hit them, Strikers was within three points of the veteran team, with three minutes left in the quarter.
Nets seemed to play right into the hands of Strikers whose coach, Robert Whyte – recently returned from his stint as USA assistant coach in Barbados – planned to slow the movement of the ball and accelerate the pace of his players’ movement, effectively wearing down the more experienced, yet older Nets players. His focus was on honing individual skills, and learning in the game situation.
Nets head coach, Nadine Purrier, admitted that they took it as a given that they would beat the less experienced Strikers who are the most recent addition to the FNA league. Nets played the first quarter with only six players but even with a full complement on the court they were relegated to single digit scores for the remaining three quarters. Nets came to the courts for a coronation, thus they simply were not prepared for the energy which Seven-Strikers displayed.
Coach Whyte said that he is pleased with what they have learnt from this game. They are proud of being able to hold Nets to 9 points per quarter for three quarters, with unrelenting defense and continual movement in the attacking end. Spearheaded by Captain, Gretel Cornwall – they followed their game plan to the end. The final score was 40 to 32 for Nets… and that was the real difference in the match. Tropical Nets remain unbeaten for the season.
In other netball news, Netball was highlighted during the Marcus Garvey Birthday Celebrations at Florida Memorial University, on Saturday August 19, 2006. USANA and FNA have been courting FMU for quite some time and consider this a very promising move; thanks to the initiative of Mr. Don Rico Ricketts of FMU and Lauderdale Lakes Commissioner, Hazelle Rogers.
FMU was sufficiently impressed that the Director of Student Activities, Mr. Vernon Martin, has invited FNA again to demonstrate the sport to a large audience at the Labor Day Cook-out and Activity Day, on Monday September 4, at 5 pm.
