Under -23 netball title Vincy bound

This country’s Under-23 netballers should be one match away from being crowned ECCB OECS champion for the twelfth time.

Their date with destiny is later today against St. Lucia in what has become for last ten years of the competition, the acid test for both outfits.{{more}}

Their march began with a workmanlike 58-23 win at the expense of St. Kitts on the opening night of competition, last Sunday, but they were unforgiving on Monday night annihilating 2003 champion Grenada 73-13. Tamara Samuel 28 from 38 attempts, captain Leanna Lewis 24 from 28 and Jasmine Frank 5 from 6, secured the defending champion’s first victory. It was the Vincentians all the way, 13-6, 29-9 and 46-16 as they wrapped up the quarters before crowning it off.

Samuel 39 from 56 and Lewis 34 from 40 were the architects of the win against Grenada, leading in all quarters 18-4, 37-6 and 55-9.

On Tuesday the Golden Girls in a display of stamina brushed aside Anguilla 97-12 in their first match, then returned later that evening to dispose of Nevis 61-22. Against Anguilla, Lewis sank 49 from her 57 tries and Frank 48 from 62. They led 20-3, 50-6 and 73-8. In their usual commanding form, SVG led the Nevisians 20-6, 31-13 and 49-18. Frank led the way in the circle with 46 out of her 60 attempts and Lewis 15 for her 19.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines were set to play a confident Dominica last Wednesday and host Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday before meeting their arch rival St. Lucia tonight in what is expected to be the usual epic battle.

Secretary of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association Natasha Medford told SEARCHLIGHT that the local girls are in good spirits and are very confident of remaining at the top of the sub-regional arena.

The team returns to the state tomorrow hopefully with their twelfth lien on the championship among other awards stashed away in the bounty.(RT)