SVG Eyeing ECCB Netball honours as Cayman upset Grenada

Defending ECCB International Netball queens, St Vincent and the Grenadines are eyeing full honours when they take on Grenada in the final game of the 2025 tournament on Sunday, August 31, 2025. The show down will bring the curtains down on the tournament which also saw the participation of three teams that are competing for global rankings- the being Barbados, Cayman Island and Guyana. The Vincy Jewels have played unbeaten so far in the tournament, their most recent victory being against Saint Lucia.

Host, Grenada enter their final game having been bruised by the Cayman Islands, according to an ECCB report on day 6 of competition.

The Cayman Islands broke Grenada’s hearts in front of a partisan crowd, confirming their status as an improving team that has always been competitive against even high-ranked teams in this latest edition of the ECCB International Netball Series.

The Caymanians defeated Grenada 58-46, and while the home team’s loss would not dent their efforts to claim an OECS title, on current form, Grenada’s final-day clash with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, set for Sunday, seems a high mountain to climb.

Both Grenada and St Vincent are unbeaten among Eastern Caribbean rivals – the Vincy Jewels are also unbeaten against all comers. Grenada have dropped matches against Barbados and the Cayman Islands.

Barbados, the Cayman Islands, and Guyana are among the invited teams competing exclusively for global ranking points throughout the tournament.

The Cayman Islands won two games on Thursday, including 58-43 against Dominica in a morning fixture.

Also on Thursday morning, Montserrat defeated Guyana 37 -34.

Set a grueling schedule, Guyana returned early afternoon, only to be pummeled by Barbados in an expected decidedly one-way fixture, 94-16

The more competitive matches were late afternoon, the first of those with St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia. The Vincy Jewels won 57-43.

Mary-Ann Frederick, the Vincentian goal shooter, continued to be the star shooter of the tournament, scoring 51 goals from 54 attempts to impressively lead the way again.

Melika Destang had 25 from 30 for St Lucia.

Antigua and Barbuda defeated Dominica 60-38, even though the game was delayed early in the fourth quarter because of the weather.

Rayana Regis continued to be Antigua’s leading light on offense, with 43 points.

Shermel St Rose scored 21 for Dominica, but the veteran Galiene Gordon-Seraphine, for years the team’s shooting inspiration, missed almost as many as she scored — only going for 13 from 24.

But the marquee game of the night was Grenada Versus Cayman Islands.

The visitors were off to an impressive start – scoring six goals even before Guyana replied.

The home team seemed to be always a step behind, and despite some mid-game rallies, they never led – the defense looked tentative at times.

Grenada’s long ball play into star goal shoot Lottysha Cato did not work of the most part, with a consistent Cayman double-teaming of the shooter.

Cato has looked increasingly limited in her movements and perhaps down on her physical condition – largely reliant on getting the ball deep into the circle in her attempt to convert.

The team that had the swagger was the Cayman Islands.

Cato’s 83.16 percent conversion rate in this tournament is down by her usually high standards – but even with her form, Grenada has few options but to bank on her prowess and reputation.

Cato had 38 points in Thursday night games.

Cayman’s Kay Copeland, more properly fed, had a game-high 45 goals. She had 52 touches as opposed to Cato’s 43.

As the tournament enters the final weekend, St Vincent and the Grenadines remain the only unbeaten team – and barring a storm or miracle, or maybe a combination of both — seem destined for not only OECS glory – but even wider honors. (Source: ECCB)