Netball Shots

Bajan Girls Showed Fight Against England - Strategic Plan Necessary

2012-04-15T08:10:00.002-07:00

President of BNA Juanita Cordle making a point a last year's
U 16 Tournament in St. Kitts

According to Netball Planet Barbados made England work for their five goal victory in the second test of their recent tour of England. Not bad for the 11th Place team in the world versus the 3rd place. Barbados has always had the talent and Anna Shepherd has my support as coach because she has been able to take Barbados (and Antigua) the highest placing in the world ranking of any senior coach we have ever had. Her instincts are good, and as part of her decorated 1987 Scotland World Champion team and having played under Shepherd for a number of years, she is one of the few coaches in Barbados that doesn't pigeonhole players.

Of course England would have taken this scoreline very hard and the final game 71-42 defeat over Barbados came as no surprise being an old hand at the psychology of the game. Barbados also is not fit enough physically nor mentally to take on the kind of assault that would have come from England's bruised egos. The game would have however been a good learning experience for the team demonstrating how far they have to go. The ability to raise their game despite injury both mental and physical and the resolve to dig deep down and proclaim that you are the best and play like it. The difference at this level is fitness, strategy and belief.

With the foundation for a sound coaching team in place, Barbados needs to have a strategic plan for netball if we are to stop moving in a vicious unproductive circle. President Juanita Cordle has to layout a strategic plan to take netball in Barbados forward. Everyone loves a winner. The Association must go after small victories to achieve the greater ones. Netball Shots will be watching on closely and will give the Association its full support.

Jamaica Snubbing CNA U16 Again

2012-03-13T10:31:00.002-07:00

The Gleaner newspaper report below by Robert Bailey tells the tale of Jamaica yet again not attending the Caribbean Netball Association's U16 Jean Pierre Tournament for the second straight year. Jamaica did not attend last year's tournament in the beautiful island of St.Kitts contrary to the inaccuracy of the report, St. Lucia are the current champions.

It seems like the Junior team is now going down the same road that the senior team did years ago. They were compelled to play AFNA and CNA Tournaments to qualify for the world games. Of course the rationale is that the region is not good enough. Jamaica does not see itself playing a role in helping to develop the region but yet it wants our vote in the boardroom.

On Sunday while teaching the Event Planning Module of the Olympic Academy's Sports Management Course, I was asked how come the region has not benefited from having a Jamaican president at the helm of the International Federation of Netball Associations for the last umpteen years. Any right thinking individual can work this out.

This story of self interest however tells the tale well. Also reflect on the condescending tone of the President as she refers to, and disassociates Jamaica from, the Caribbean Netball Association of which they are members. So much for integration, one Caribbean, mumbo jumbo.

....

"JAMAICA will not be participating in the Caribbean Netball Association Under-16 championships this year, choosing instead to battle their England counterparts in a three-match series, which will be held in Birmingham next month.

"Birmingham is sponsoring most of the players and so we can't turn that down, and, therefore we have decide not to participate in the Caribbean junior tournament for this year," Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) president Marva Bernard told The Gleaner in an interview yesterday.

"These people in the Caribbean took long to tell us the date of the cham-pionships, and when they did we had already made our plans to go to Birmingham," she said.

Jamaica has been dominating the Caribbean junior tournaments overs the years and have won the last three stagings. This year's tournament will be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Minnett Reynolds-coached Jamaicans are scheduled to oppose their Birmingham counterparts on April 12 and April 13. The junior Sunshine Girls will play their final game against their English counterparts on April 15.

"Every year we go to the Caribbean Under-16 Tournament, but this year we accepted the invitation to go to Birmingham, so as to give the girls a chance to see a different style of play," said Bernard.

"We also are going to be playing against England's under-17 team and so this will be good match practice for them, rather than just going to the Caribbean Championships every year," Bernard added. "We will also be looking to see which one of them will make the transition to our national Under-21 programme."

Condolences

2011-04-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Guyana Management on the bench watching the Guyana vs Bermuda
game

Before I complete my under 16 blog post of the this year's Jean Pierre U16 Caribbean Netball Association Tournament, I would like to offer condolence to the Guyana under 16 team whose manager, Shondelle Samaroo died tragically in a traffic accident this morning. According to reports she was also the secretary of the Guyana Netball Association. Please remember the Guyaneese netball fraternity in your prayers.

Condolences are also extended to the immediate past president of the Barbados Netball Association Octavia Gibson and her family on the passing of her sister Barbara Reid. Reid who lived overseas will be brought to Barbados to be buried on April 30. The service will take place at Holy Innocents Anglican Church at 9:00 am.

Barbados Boost Goal Difference Against Dominica

2011-04-15T02:52:00.000-07:00

Barbados Goal Attack Sheniqua Thomas on the Defence

Cognizant that they have to boost their goal difference in the U16 Jean Pierre CNA Championship if they are to snatch this year's competition from St. Lucia, Barbados came out in the evening with guns blazing limiting Dominica to just 9 goals to their 46.

An unchanged starting line up from the morning side of Shonica Wharton (GS), Sheniqua Thomas (GA), Tia Jones (WA), Tyneisha Rowe (C), Sade Browne (WD), Sade Sargeant (GD) and Shanice Wharton (GK).

The only blunder the team made was assisted by the coach who changed the WA Tia Jones in the second quarter. Jones has been the play maker on the attack all tournament and with her out the Barbados attack struggle to find a rhythm. That was their weakest quarter the interval scores being 12-2, 20-5 and 35-7.

Sweet Revenge for Barbados U16 Netballers Against St. Lucia

2011-04-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Barbados Shooter on the Ball

Barbados are back in the runnings to becoming this year's CNA Jean Pierre U16 Netball Champions. As I chanted a little "I say B for Barbados" to myself in the stands, I could feel the positive energy radiating from the Barbados team for this game. They wanted a this victory and played their hearts out from the first whistle catching the St. Lucians flat footed and taking an early 5 goal lead which the St. Lucians pull back to a decent 9 -7 to Barbados by the end of the first quarter.

Barbados led all intervals 9-7, 18-15, 26-19 to finish with a well fought 33-31. The starting line up for Barbados was (GS) Shonica Wharton, (GA) Sheniqua Thomas, (WA) Tia Jones, (C) Tyneisha Rowe, (WD) Sade Browne, (GD) Sade Sargeant, and (GK) Shanice Wharton.

St. Lucia fought valiantly in the final quarter but the Barbados third quarter lead was too much and at the end it was the Bajans jumping for victory.

The two top teams this year will be striving to get big scores in their final games as they seek to improve their goal averages. In the shooting area goal shooter Wharton scored 33 0f 29 while Thomas netted 5 of 9.

St. Lucia U16 talking to coaching staff

Other morning games. Guyana 23 Anguilla 19
Trinidad and Tobago 32 - Dominica 19
Bermuda 19 - St. Kitts 12

Barbados U16

Barbados vs St. Vincent and the Grenadines

2011-04-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

The second game between Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean Netball Association Jean Pierre Under 16 netball championship started slopply and both teams fumbled, threw away the ball and were generally disorganised for the first quarter of the game. It took almost 3 minutes or more for the first team to score which turned out to be Barbados. The first quarter score ending a mere 6-2 in favour of Barbados.

Ok folkes, I don't have the team line up tonight but I will plug in the names tomorrow so bear with me.

It was the Barbados defences that kept them in the game as the attack got use to playing with the new goal shooter.

Especially the goal keeper who had an outstanding game making interceptions from start to finish.

The Barbados defences were so effective that St. Vincent were only allowed 3 goals in the 2nd quarter, the other interval scores were 18-5, and 27-9. Barbados eventually completed a convincing comprehensive 35-15 defeat over the Vincies.

Bermuda On A Roll Again

2011-04-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Bermuda is defending their title as the number 1 developmental team in the Jean Pierre Under 16 CNA Championship spendidly. The girls are some tough cookies willing to sacrifice their bodies as they out hussel their opponents. Tonight they solidify their chances at the title again by defeating their main challengers for the crown, home team St. Kitts. See some glimpses of the Bermudans in an earlier game against Guyana.

Bermuda in blue, red and white on the attack against Guyana

Under16 Again

2011-04-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

Now I know that my blog is really being read. I have had so many calls, facebook messages, emails etc. asking what is happening here in St. Kitts that I feel obliged to add something to the site. Work, study and other commitments have driven me into tired sleepy silence. After this post however some people will probably wish I had stayed away.

My first post was going to be about the Jean Pierre CNA U16 tournament here in St. Kitts and how St. Lucia doing the dog upsetting both Trinidad and Barbados and then what should pop up on my whiteberry but news about the Jamaican U16 team (the defending champions of this tournament no less) defeating Birmingham 43-10 somewhere in Jamaica. Now tell me what is wrong with that story? Netball is in a state in the Caribbean. Jamaica feel that they don’t need to play the rest of the Caribbean (well this goes way back) because we are not good enough, well hell yes we need lots of work, but this is our region and unless we stick together and constructively help each other then we as a region will never be good enough.

Bad enough that the international body has had a president from the region for the longest while and yet we are no better off. What does that say.? I understand that there are no challengers for the position internationally but why should there be when Massa can just sit back and pull puppet strings.

Good Going Barbados 7th Place Commonwealth Games

2010-10-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Coach Alwyn Babb has again demonstrated the midas touch. First with our world champion Ryan Brathwaite, now he has carried the Barbadian netballers to their highest placing thus far in a Commonwealth Games. I truly hope that he will be allowed to have the squad for a few years to come so that he can build on what he has started. Congratulations to all the girls and the management. I am happy to see that the defeat from Trinidad in the qualifiers was used as a positive. That it gave you an idea of where you had to go and you had the determination, drive, skill and fitness to do it. Babb you have now started. You have my full support, of course that does not mean I will not speak fair and frank because I will always call a spade a spade. I hope that we can get an executive behind you that is businesslike, that has the capacity to attract the kind of sponsorship investment that Barbados needs to take it to the next level. We have the talent, lets develop it.

XIX Delhi Commonwealth Games: Australia vs Jamaica Netball Live Stream Commonwea...

2010-10-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

XIX Delhi Commonwealth Games: Australia vs Jamaica Netball Live Stream Commonwea...: "Australia vs Jamaica Netball Commonwealth Games Live Watch Now Live TV Australia vs Jamaica Netball Delhi Commonwealth Games video Online ..."

Caribbean Teams In Commonwealth Games

2010-10-08T03:31:00.000-07:00

Anestacia Wilson and Joelisa Cooper scored 26 goals each to steer Trinidad and Tobago past Samoa, 52-51 on Wednesday, in a keenly contested Commonwealth Games netball tournament Group A clash, at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex, in New Delhi, India.

The victory was a timely morale booster for T&T, following Monday's 75-36 defeat to Jamaica.

The Samoans led 12-11 at the end of the first quarter of yesterday's contest, and 27-26 at halftime. But T&T edged past Samoa in the third period of play, outscoring their South Pacific rivals 13-10 to take a 39-37 lead into the final quarter.

Trinidad crushed India 77-26 on Thursday to knock the home side out of the competition.

Barbados bounced back from their defeat against England to put away both Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Commonwealth Games Groups

2010-10-08T03:28:00.000-07:00

Group A

New Zealand

England

Barbados

Papua New Guinea

South Africa

Cook Islands

Group B

Jamaica

Australia

Samoa

Trinidad

Malawi

India

Jamaica Observer Cartoon

2010-09-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

Found this hilarious. Published by the Observer after the recently concluded Jamaica/England Series.

Jamaica $1mil. Pepsi Boost/Ties England In Series

2010-09-04T01:43:00.001-07:00

The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) recently received a cheque for J$1m from Pepsi-Cola Jamaica, through its brand Gatorade . Aside from the cash donation, Pepsi-Cola has reportedly also pledged an undisclosed quantity of Gatorade and Aqua Essential Purified Water products to hydrate the players during training camps and tournaments and has assisted with the construction of a study room at the association's home located in Barbican.

This is great news for the Caribbean's number one team. The question is what is happening with Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados since they qualified for the world tournament. I had heard that Trinidad is making some strides, importing coaches with international experience to help prepare the team.

But will the teams from the South do enough to catch their Northern counterparts who are ranked #4 in the world.

Jamaica just concluded a two game series with England. England won the first game and Jamaica fought back tooth and nail to win the second. It is obvious that Barbados and Trinidad will have to scouts out sponsors and play a number of competitive games if they are going to take more than a jolly ride to the World Games as all the top teams have already started their preparations.

Final Day AFNA

2010-07-31T05:09:00.001-07:00

The 2010 Americas Federation of Netball Associations Championships in St. Lucia was one of the most competitive thus far. Each team gave a splendid account of themselves and some of the score lines really belied the skill and athleticism displayed on court.

All the teams have improved tremendously even Canada who did not win a game was no walk over, all the teams had to really play them to win.

On the final day, Barbados bounced back from their upset defeat against home team St. Lucia and went about the task of strengthening their goal average against Canada to secure 2nd place in the competition beating out the USA and St. Lucia.

This was made easy by what may have been a fluke for Barbados. With first line goal keeper Lisa Puckerin sidelined by injury, Laurel Browne was

put in this role and she played surprisingly beautifully. Canada was clearly not expecting her height in the circle as they switch out their tall goal shooter Sabrina Versteeg to GA for this game, starting GA Tiffanie Wolfe went to the WA position while Amanda Bonger played goal shooter.

Browne made so many interceptions that it totally released any pressure Canada may have brought to the game upfront. As usual Canada had a strong start, the first quarter score 15-10 in favour of Barbados. Barbados however got progressively stronger while Canada faded, the other intervals scores 29-18 and 45-27 reflected this. Barbados went on to win with a comfortable 60-31 margin.

The starting side for Barbados was Lydia Bishop GS, Nikita Piggott GA, Sabrina Browne WA, Sabrina Smith C, Kizzy Marville WD, Latoya Blackman GD with Browne at GK.

Shooting Stats: Bishop scored 34 of 39 goals for 87% while Piggot had 93% average scoring 26 of her 28 attempts.

For Canada GS Amanda Bonger scored 17 of 27 while Sabrina Verteeg scored 14 of 23.

USA finished 3rd in the competition. In their final game they defeated St. Vincent and the Grenadines 63-39. USA Goal Shooter, Georgina Hibbert who had an outstanding tournament netted 53 of her 57 attempts while goal attack Petra Williams scored 10 of 12. St. Vincent used a total of five shooters. Gailene Gordon, the starting shooter, netted 15 of 17 goals before she left the position at half time. Mary-Ann Federick had one quarter and she scored 9 of 12. In the last quarter Jasmine Frank scored 3 of 5. Tamara Samuel started at the goal attack position and she netted 9 of 10 goals while substitute Roseclair Hall scored 3 of 6.

Champions Trinidad and Tobago completed a clean sweep of the competition dispatching host country St. Lucia 58-45. The intervals scores all in favour of Trinidad were 14-11, 26-23 and 42-30. Up until half time St. Lucia looked to have a fighting chance however Trinidad switched gears and they did not have the gas to follow.

Shooting stats

Trinidad: Anastacia Wilson (GS) 49 of 52, Joelisa Cooper (GA) 5 fo 7 and substitute GA Janelle Barker 4 of 5.

St. Lucia : Dedra Mathurine (GS) 17 of 19, Shem Maxwell 13 of 15 and substitute GA Merlissa Alfred 15 of 17.

Day 4 AFNA Qualifiers

2010-07-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Home team St. Lucia dealt Barbados a knock-out 53-50 punch that has Barbados in jeopardy of missing a netball world championship for the first time due to not qualifying which would be a major set back in its world ranking. (President of the Barbados Netball Association, Octavia Gibson's reaction at the end of the game says it all.)

Playing at the Beausejour indoor facilities, Barbados posted another new line up which featured: Lydia Bishop (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Sabrina Smith (WA), Kizzy Marville (C), Tonisha Rock-Yaw (WD), Latoya Blackman (GD) and Lisa Puckerin at (GK). Barbados got out of the blocks early taking the first quarter 11-9. St. Lucia however went into another gear from the second quarter to which Barbados faltered in their response. Shakira Shepherd came into the game in the second quarter for Rock-Yaw who needed a time out. While Barbados adjusted, St. Lucia went into half time with an inspired 25-20 lead.

The third quarter saw more changes from Barbados. Samantha Browne was introduced at (WA) and she later changed with Kizzy to take up the centre position. Barbados was able to pull back 29-29 with this combination but did not have the fire power to go ahead. St. Lucia again taking over and finishing the third quarter with a three goal lead 37-34.

Everybody expected Barbados to make a grand come back in the final quarter like they did against the USA but this time the players on court did not have the depth to pull it off.

With Latoya out of the game Barbados finished with Shepherd at GD and Rock Yaw at WD. At the front too Piggott gave way to Nadia Blackman at GA. The sheer newness of this combination beat Barbados as they had no history to fall back on when the going got tough and the pressure was at its most intense. The players fought valiantly to the end but clearly the wrong combination of players were on court.

Shooting stats:

Lydia Bishop netted 29 of 35 , Nikita Piggott - 18 of 19 and Nadia Blackman scored a perfect 3 of 3.

For St Lucia: Deidre Maithurin scored 32 of 33 while Shem Maxwell scored 21 goals from 21 attempts.

When these two teams last met at the AFNA tournament in 2008 Barbados easily dispatched St. Lucia 54-35. St. Lucia scored another big victory against Barbados in 2001 in a Connie Francis coached side.

Results of other games played on Day 4 were:

St. Vincent & The Grenadines won against Canada 52-48
Trinidad & Tobago defeated the USA 49-34

Trinidad and Tobago will finish on top of the table today even if home country St. Lucia is able to pull another upset victory out of the bag. The second place team and the other team to qualify will be decided after the games today.

Day 3 AFNA World Qualifiers St. Lucia

2010-07-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

Day 3 of the World Qualifiers could have been the final day of the AFNA tournament here in St. Lucia, as arch rivals faced off from Game One. The two teams from the North, Canada and the USA faced each other in game one.

Surprisingly it was Canada who got the early jump on the USA, leading for most of the game. USA however surfaced when it was most important to finish with a game winning 42-36. The interval scores all in favour of Canada were 13-9, 23-14 and 30-27.

Game two was close, physical and scrappy with a number of time outs. At the end home team St. Lucia emerged victorious 46-40 over St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In the big match up for the evening, Trinidad and Tobago led from the get go and despite pressure from Barbados at intermittent intervals they never faltered leading all intervals 16 -11, 28-23 and 43-39 to finish with a comfortable 10 goal margin 59-49.

The starting line up for the teams were: Barbados - Lydia Bishop (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA), Sabrina Browne (WA), Samantha Browne (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Lisa Puckering (GD) and Latoya Blackman at GK. Trinidad fielded: Anastacia Wilson (GS), Joelsia Cooper (GA), Rhonda John (WA), Krista Winchester (C), Candice Guererro (WD), Anika La Roche (GD) and Angel Ottley at GK.

Barbados again had lots of trouble on the attack, Sabrina Browne made a number of unforced errors and most times was shut out of the game. This should have been the second quarter change as Lydia Bishop was obviously ready for the game, moving well and playing very strong but was not getting the kind of support she needed from the attack to keep up a healthy momentum. Piggott along with Samatha Browne and Kizzy Marville who played an attacking more than defensive WD were key to production however this created a lot of pressure which could have been relieved with a genuine passer in the squad.

The key to Barbados' demise however came in the third quarter with some substitutions which really did not pan out and clearly took completely what little pressure was on Trinidad off. Barbados went with Lydia Bishop at GA and Laurel Browne at GS. Reminiscent of the old Sonia Banfield and Jennifer Forde in the goal circle days. It hardly worked back then and it certainly did not work this time. Barbados is definitely struggling to find its strongest line up.

My first team based on performance at the tournament: Lydia Bishop, Nikita Piggott, Sabrina Smith, Samantha Browne, toss up between Shepherd and Kizzy at WD (two different styles, effective differently depending on the game), Latoya Blackman and Lisa Puckerin.

Thanks for the commentary, good and indifferent. It lets me know someone is reading :-)

Gibson new AFNA Secretary

2010-07-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the President of the Barbados Netball Association, Octavia Gibson for being returned as Americas Federation of Netball Associations Regional Representative. She was also elected as AFNA Secretary at the AFNA, Annual General Meeting held yesterday in St Lucia.

Day 2 AFNA World Qualifiers In St. Lucia

2010-07-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

Day 2 provided lots of excitement for spectators as the competition was stiff, and the action nail bitting at the Beausejour indoor facility in St. Lucia for the Americas Federation of Netball Associations World qualifiers.

Game one was the most predictable. Trinidad and Tobago seized a slim 12-11 lead from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the first quarter and built on it 25-21, 40-33 to finish with a clear ten goal cushion 53-43.

The second game Barbados vs USA was action packed. USA who clearly have arrived to upset the apple cart started confidently jumping to an early 13-8 goal lead. Barbados started with a new line up from their first match while USA kept their side unchanged. Barbados used Laurel Browne (GS), Nikita Piggott (GA) Nadia Blackman (WA), Samantha Smith (C), Shakira Shepherd (WD), Latoya Blackman (GD) and Lisa Puckerin (GK).

Laurel Browne did not have a good start to the game. She was unavailable and the attack looked very disorganised. USA on the other hand progressed smoothly, their shooter Georgina Hibbert, a tough six footer with some girth was not an easily match up for Puckerin but she did a commendable job again along with Blackman. USA maintained a slim one goal lead in the second quarter 21-22 and moved forward in the third after the changes, which Barbados' coach Alwyn Babb made, did not pan out (37-33).

The problem was not with his attack but with the shooter so the entry of Kizzy Marville at WD and Sabrina Browne at WA was to no effect since Laurel Browne just was not available in this game. Lydia Bishop having had a good look from the side lines came into the game in the last quarter and put the game beyond USA's reach, Barbados eventually making the game look easier than it really was with a handsome 11 goal differential (51-40). Shooting stats: Laurel Browne - 16 of 23, Nikita Piggott - 23 from 29 and Bishop a perfect 12 of 12.

For the USA: Georgina Hibbert scored 36 of 40 while the active Roneish Davis, USA's play maker scored 3 of 5. Tasha Browne, the last quarter substitute netted 1 of 3.

Home country St. Lucia pull off a keenly contested victory against Canada, 47 -45.

AFNA Championships St. Lucia

2010-07-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Host country St. Lucia suffered a heart wrenching 42-38 defeat at the hands of USA in the first major upset of the tournament on the very first day of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Qualifiers at the Beausejour indoor facility in St. Lucia.

A mere six teams are featured in the tournament vying for the right to attend the world championships next year in Singapore. Jamaica has already qualified. Teams (St. Lucia, Barbados, Canada, USA, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and Trinidad and Tobago)

The Saint Lucia
national netball squad: Merlessa Alfred, Miryam Augustin, Deselva Florton, Glatta Gabriel, Niocse Louis, Shem Maxwell, Judy Mathurin, Dedra Mathurin, Michelle Rodgers, Delia Samuel, Roxanne Synder, and Saphia William; with Rebecca Flemius (manager), Anthony Lamontagne (coach), and Donnalynn Joseph (Assistant Coach).

The USA side allegedly is packed with Jamaicans who played top level netball in their home country. Other nationalities quoted are Australians, Trinidadians and Barbadians. Barbadian Beverley Morris- Giles (a former national netballer) is on the sidelines as Manager (more on the players names later). USA led all the intervals but in the last quarter St. Lucia on two occasions had the opportunity to move ahead but failed to do so.

Barbados had their first victory at a championship under its new coach Alwyn Babb. Starting a little shaky against arch rivals St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Barbados line up featured, Lydia Bishop GS, Nikita Piggott GA, Sabrina Browne (WA), Sabrina (C), Kizzy Marville (WD), Latoya (GD) and Lisa Puckerin (GK).

Bishop surprisingly was ordinary, the St. Vincent GK really had an outstanding game. It was Nikata Piggott who was awesome doing all the work outside and transitioning smoothly to the shooting position taking the pressure off Bishop when she clearly appeared frustrated on occasions. It was my first time seeing Sabrina Browne at wing attack and with all the fuss back in Barbados about this position, I would say Barbados is clearly still looking. In this game Sabrina was clearly out of her depth but her little sister Samatha who was her substitute (she went to centre while the other Sabrina went WA) is clearly cut out for top level competition. The defensives were also very outstanding keeping Barbados in the game while the attack tried to sort themselves out.

It was with this change that Barbados demonstrated that they were a cut above St. Vincent easily defeating that team 57-33. The scores at the intervals - 11-10 SVG; 24-21 (B'dos) and 40-25 (B'dos). Barbados scored 6 straight goals after the half time change. A no brainer change if you ask me. (Bishop scored 31 of 39 and Piggott 26 of 31) (SVG Janelle Frank was limited to 14 of 18 and Gaylene Gordon 19 of 24)

The other winner on the night was Trinidad and Tobago who dispatched Canada 48-36.

Under 16 Barbados

2010-07-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

Could not start the AFNA qualifiers without congratulating Jamaica on winning the Jean Pierre CNA under 16 tournament in Barbados.

Easily the weakest Jamaica under 16 team I have seen in a long while (no giants nor overly athletic looking, could pass for seniors girls) it tells us how far the rest of the Caribbean have to go to catch up to Jamaica not just on skills but on pure guts and determination.

Photographer Grantley Sealy has kindly shared his photos from the tournament with me which will be placed on this site in an album at the end of the month so look out for it. For prosterity, The final standing were:

1st Jamaica

2nd Barbados

3rd Trinidad and Tobago

4th St. Lucia

5th St. Vincent and the Grenadines

6th Grenada

7th Dominica

In the Group B section Bermuda demonstrated some impressive skills to place 1st, Guyana who played in the top group last year were second, St. Kitts 3rd and the Cayman Island 4th.

Things Heating up for Commonwealth Games

2010-03-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

Found this story. The heat is on for this year's Commonwealth Games. I am rallying around Jamaica all the way as the obvious Caribbean hopeful. I hope the new Barbadian coach, Alwyn Babb would have at least half the success he has had with his athletes. The following is a CMC report:

Australia’s netball coach Norma Plummer is wary of the shooting threat the Jamaican world star Romelda Aiken poses to them in clashes later this year.

World champions Australia Diamonds will be at home to Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls for a three-Test series in August before facing off at October’s Commonwealth Games in India where they are both pooled in the same group.

At 6-feet-5-inches, the 21-year-old Aiken is one of the world’s best shooters and Plummer concedes that because containing her is so difficult, it makes World No.4 Jamaica a very potent force.

“Romelda demands so much attention,” Plummer said.

“You are inclined to let their talented shooter Simone Forbes run a little bit to shut down the big pass going in. It really does put you at a disadvantage unless you’ve got the height to combat Romelda,” Plummer added.

The Test series between Australia and Jamaica starts on August 8 in Melbourne, followed by matches in Sydney (August 11) and the Gold Coast (August 15).

Jamaica advertised their current strength in Kingston last October when they registered wins over Australia and World No.2 New Zealand to secure 1-1 series results against the two powerhouses in world netball.

In the series against Australia, Jamaica lost the opening game 51-53 but rallied to win the second game 56-55 for their first win over Australia in 11 years.
Led by Aiken, the Sunshine Girls rebounded from a 56-61 defeat in their opening match against the New Zealand Silver Ferns to win the second match 53-50.

I am Back

2010-02-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Last year I stopped blogging right in the middle of the World Youth Netball Championship. It was because I had a very bad experience and I did not want to share it at the time with the world wide web. It was not pretty, it would not have done the sport I love so much any good so instead I decided to be quiet. I decided to let the edge wear off.

Now I can say no one should have been surprised at Australia's total devastation of the New Zealanders. New Zealand did not deserve to be in the finals but they were allowed there through bias umpiring. There I said it. As an umpire myself I try never to criticize officials but I found the selection of umpires very one-sided and borderline or full-line racial.

Malawi and Jamaica's opportunity to be in the finals was stolen from them both against an overly aggressive and less talented New Zealand team. The Kiwis were not however allowed the same dangerous unsportsmanlike play against Australia who were in my books truly the best team in the competition. I really admired how the Aussie coach used her team which was strong down to her 12th player as exhibited when her goal attack received an unfortunate injury in the semi-finals ( A big Congrats Australia, you were a picture of grace and true talent, sportsmanlike to the last play. Your game was really a great testimony to the great sport of Netball.)

I am looking forward to the day when we as a people can truly see pass colour. See the beauty, the strength, the grace in each other.

My hope and pray for my sport this year is for the World to go into this new decade truly open- minded. And that the superiority/inferiority will be demonstrated through good play on court rather than by bigotry.

World U21 Netball Cook Islands

2009-08-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

The World U21 Netball Championships are on the beautiful Pacific Island of Rarotonga. One of the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands, it is populated with some of the warmest people I have met anywhere in the world.

For my update on how the three Caribbean countries are doing in the world tournament, click on the below link.

http://netballshots.prmrinc.net/

Barbados Hosts Scotland, England and St. Vincent and the Grenadines

2009-06-16T03:38:00.000-07:00

Join me on Netball Shots new location for the most up-to-date coverage on the Barbados Goodwill Series featuring Scotland, England, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and host Barbados.

Click for link.