National Under-21 netballers booked their spot at next year’s Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) after beating Grenada 61-39 to secure third place at the Americas Region Qualifiers at the Paul Chonchon Hall in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe on Sunday.
The local team started slowly as the Grenadians netted the opening goal before T&T evened the score at 1-1. Grenada fired back but captain Destiny Williams and her teammates responded to the score at 2-2. The U-21 “Calypso Girls” then went ahead for the first time and maintained the lead until the final whistle.
The national players were up by three goals (13-10) in the first quarter and extended the advantage to eight at halftime (28-20).
On the resumption, T&T pressed and increased the margin to ten goals (33-23), then 13 (41-28) and eventually to 15 (43-28). The local defenders contained the Grenadian shooters to ensure the lead stayed at 15 at the end of the third interval (45-30).
With World Cup qualification at stake, the local players dominated their Caribbean neighbours thanks to aggressive attacking and superior fitness, outscoring the Grenadians 16-9 in the final quarter to take the match 61-39.
Fifteen-year-old Shian Lewis was voted the “Player of the Match”. Lewis, the youngest player on the team, played in the centre position.
Head coach Kalifa McCollin-Lopez praised the efforts of the players after the match, saying: “I am excited for the girls. They have worked hard to get here.”
Mc Colin-Lopez added that she was also thankful the team has secured its place in Gibraltar.
‘’I know the girls still have more to give. I am still not satisfied because we were aiming for a top two places and I know they could have done it.”
The former professional player shared that more players will be recruited in preparation for the 2025 World Youth Cup.
“When we get back (home), we are definitely going to go scouting in some of the rural areas for girls who are tall, extremely strong especially going into Gibraltar because that (World Cup) is a different ball game.”
She added that she was encouraged by the team’s performance against Jamaica in the semifinal round on Saturday. Jamaica won 40-33.
“We went out in that game expecting to win because (our girls) could have. For the first time in a long time that any T&T team would have held Jamaica down in three quarters. I think it was just for us to press forward on the gas. The girls were not able to do that.”
President of the T&T Netball Association Sherry-ann Blackburn also offered congratulations to the players.
“T&T is elated by the qualification. Everyone worked hard together to make this dream a reality,” said Blackburn.
She explained that the preparation for the World Youth Cup continues.
“The road ahead is long. There is much to do and we are up to the challenge to reclaim the game for Netball T&T. All hands on deck, as we work together to make this dream for our youngsters both on and off the field a reality, they’re deserving of it.”
In the final which followed unbeaten Jamaica defeated Barbados, 54-29, to take the top spot in the Americas Qualifiers. Both teams have also qualified for the World Youth Cup.
The national contingent is scheduled to return home on Tuesday night.
Results
Sunday
Final
Jamaica 54 vs Barbados 29
Third place play-off
T&T 61 vs Grenada 39
Saturday
7th/8th position play off: Antigua and Barbudu 31 vs Cayman Islands 39
5th/6th posiition play off: Canada 49 vs St. Maarten 21
Semifinals
Barbados 63 vs Grenada 45
Jamacia 40 vs T&T 33
Friday
Grenada 49 vs Cayman Islands 27
St Marteen 42 vs Guadeloupe 13
Thursday
Jamaica 83 vs Grenada 28
Barbados 45- vsT&T 44
Grenada 37 vs Canada 36
Barbados 113 vs Guadeloupe 4
Wednesday
Jamaica 71 vs Cayman Islanda 9
Antigua and Barbuda 32 vs St. Maarten 22
Jamaica 65 vs Canada 16
T&T 66 vs Antigua and Barbuda 17
Tuesday
T&T 106 vs Guadeloupe 4
Barbados 90 vs Antigua and Barbuda 10
T& T 62 vs St Maarten 23
Monday
Canada 35 vs Cayman Islands 16
Barbados 75 vs St. Maarten 18
Antigua and Barbuda 50 vs Guadeloupe 5
