Grenada top SVG to take OECS Under-23 Netball title again

Grenada took the 25th edition of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) OECS Under-23 Netball Tournament, which concluded last Wednesday night at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex, making it title number five.

The Grenadians, who also won the title when it was last held here in 2010, came up trumps, despite the best efforts of the hosts, who kept pace with them.

However, St Vincent and the Grenadines failed to be consistent in their passing and shooting, as agreed by captain Shanice Daniel.{{more}}

Assessing the tournament, Daniel said, “We played hard throughout; we worked, but tonight, we were off with our passes; we were playing a bit too fast, so Grenada got the best of us.

“Also tonight, our starting team did not mesh well enough; nevertheless we tried,” Daniel stated.

In the tournament decider, Grenada took a slender 7-6 lead at the end of quarter number one; at the halfway mark, it was still Grenada 16-14.

The third quarter saw Grenada establishing a five-goal cushion, taking it 24-19 into the last quarter and sealing the victory and the title 30-26.

For the Grenadians, Rennisha Stafford registered 22 of her 30 attempts, while Tiffany Fredericks counted 8 of her 12.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ tally saw Khadija Williams putting in 25 of her 38 attempts and Kelesha Francis scoring 1 of 9.

Going into last Wednesday’s match unblemished, the Grenadians had taken care of St Kitts, 42 – 31; Dominica, 44-26 and versus St Lucia ran away 38-21 winners.

Likewise, St Vincent and the Grenadines chalked up wins against the same opponents, beating Dominica 31-26, St Lucia 29-26 and blew out St Kitts last Tuesday morning when the tournament shifted belatedly to the Kingstown Netball Centre.

The Vincentian lasses ran out 15-1, 30-10, 42-18 and finally 57-26.

Khadija Williams scored 33 of her 46 attempts, Kelesha Francis registered 14 of her 17 tries, while Shanice Daniel recorded 7 of her 10 and Yanneisha Scipio counted 3 of her 8.

For the Kittitians, Tamara Tweed scored 8 of her 10 attempts, Laquana Connor 9 of her 16; Onika Bloise got 1 of 3 and Alliyah Gibson – 8 of 12.

In Tuesday’s other match, also played at the Kingstown Netball Centre, Dominica clawed back from a slender 16-17 deficit when the match was deferred on Monday night following rains at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex, to defeat St Lucia 43-36.

Prior to Wednesday’s finale between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, St Lucia got past St Kitts, 46-42.

Final standings: Grenada – first, St Vincent and the Grenadines – second, Dominica – third, St Lucia – fourth and St Kitts – fifth.(RT)