Mitres TRAC ends Maple’s reign

Youth triumphed over experience, as the Western Union Mitres TRAC dethroned Vita Malt Maple as Division One champions of the Digicel National Netball Club Tournament, last Monday.{{more}}

In the process, Mitres TRAC got another shot at next year’s sub-regional champions club tournament.

The championship match, which over the years, attracted a crowd at the Kingstown Netball Centre, this year had only a spattering of on lookers, however, the on court battle lived up to the usual hard nosed play.

Resembling a national outfit, Mitres TRAC started with a super seven of Leanna Lewis, Nichole Sandy, Jacintha Adams, Marcia Gordon, Nicholette King, and Kailene Thompson and from the get go showed their youthfulness. However, at the end of the first fifteen minutes, they had only a one point advantage at 10-9.

Sandy and the fleet-footed Lewis, were too much for the Maple’s stagnant defence. Lewis was at her best, as she outwitted her markers with her dazzling moves, but faltered at times with her attempts. Mitres TRAC though, sped to a 24 to 18 advantage at the end of the second quarter.

A tactical move to slow down the pace, worked for Maple, as they came within touching distance of their opponents. Skiddy Francis-Crick and veteran player Thelma Foster tied it up at 30, and cut the deficit to one, as the third quarter finished 32-31.

Mitres TRAC inserted the fast paced Maxine James in preference to Thompson in the final quarter, and this worked as they upped the tempo and Maple committed some unforced errors at crucial points of the match.

Maple’s cause was not helped as the majority of the vocal support was in favour of Mitres TRAC.

Mitres TRAC went over the line, winning 42-41, and relegated the 2008 league champions to the runner up spot.

Mitres TRAC shooters Lewis and Sandy were guilty of wasting several attempts which almost cost them the match and the title. Together they missed 20 shots, in comparison to the Maple’s duo of Francis-Crick and Foster who were unsuccessful at only 6 attempts at the rim.

Lewis netted 26 goals from all of 38, while her sidekick Sandy scored 16 from her 24 tries.

On the other hand, the more accurate Francis-Crick poured in 33 of her 38 attempts and Foster was successful at 8 of her 9 attempts.

Maple, having won the league in 2008, will be this country’s representative whenever the 2009 OECS Champion of Champions Club Championship, is staged.(RT)