Mitres top up knock out title

Western Union Mitres made certain that they did not leave the 2007 Cable and Wireless National Netball Tournament without a piece of silverware, when they retained the Division One Knock Out crown last Sunday.{{more}}

Mitres reversed the defeat suffered earlier in the Tournament when they were beaten by archrivals Maple as the two battled for the league title.

But Sunday’s final, held at the Kingstown Netball Centre, was a fitting end to an otherwise uninspiring Tournament, as from the first whistle, no one could have predicted the winner.

It was 10-9 in favour of Maple at the end of the first quarter. The score was level at 22 at the end of the second.

Some positional changes by both teams added some impetus to the game. Mitres’ decision to put Nicole Sandy in the goal attack position immediately paid dividends, as she and the experienced Dellarice Duncan at wing attack were unstoppable, establishing as much as a four point lead. The third quarter finished 36-32, with Mitres in the ascendancy. Duncan was on top of her game, with her “look away passing” befuddling the Maple defence.

But the 56-year-old Maple club resurged to level the score at 39 and 42, but did not maintain the momentum. Mitres nipped home by the narrowest of margins 44-43.



It was just reward for Mitres, who only had seven players at their disposal, while Maple had others to call on from their bench.

For Mitres, last year’s double crowned champions, Jasmine Frank shot 33 from 41, Sandy 8 from 12 and Geshelle Peters 3 from 5.

Skiddy Francis-Crick led the way for Maple with 35 from 44 and Thelma Foster shot 8 from 14.

And all winners received their prizes soon after last Sunday’s final.

Francis-Crick, for the umpteenth time, won the most goals trophy in the senior division. Marry Ann Frederick followed the experienced Francis-Crick, copping that award in the junior division.

Ashaka David was voted the best defender among the juniors, while Roseclair Hall secured that award among the seniors.

Ruth Ann Williams was adjudged the best centre court player in the junior division, with Saska Diamond doing so for the seniors.

One player from each of the registered teams was named her team’s Most Valuable Player and received a trophy for her effort.

The Most Improved team was Kingstown Combined Clique, and Green Hill Sports Club, the Most Disciplined team.

Mitres took the runner up spot in Division One league action, and Twilight Trading Xceed Sports Club third.(RT)

Standard Shippers Falcon won the Division 2A of the league. Maple was second, and Green Hill Youths third. Dustan Johnson Barrouallie Sports Association captured the knock out title in that division.

Yanja Young Strugglers were the double holders of the league and knock out of Division 2B. Metrocint Sparkles docked in second in the league format, and TRAC third.

The honours in Division 3 were shared by Urban Youths and Pine Hill Clinchers. Urban Youths won the league, and Clinchers the knock out. The newly formed Xceed Sports Club was second in the league, and Marriaqua Activists, third.

Last Sunday’s closing ceremony heard addresses by President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association Doris Mc Intosh, Rene Baptiste, parliamentary representative of West Kingstown, who stood in for Sports Minister Glen Beache, and Franklyn Fraser, a representative of the sponsors, Cable & Wireless.

Next on the Association’s calendar is the constituency tournament, set to begin October 7.