By Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter 
Members of the victorious Edwin Allen senior netball team beam with pride upon receiving the ISSA Rural Schoolgirls Championship trophy and the All-Island Champions Cup at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday. - Ian Allen
CHRISTMAS CAME early for Wolmer's and Edwin Allen who captured the junior and senior All-Island netball titles respectively in the finals at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday.
There was much celebration at the Kingston venue when Wolmer's, who were recently crowned Corporate Area junior champions, defeated Denbigh 25-18 and Edwin Allen edged St Hugh's side 28-27.
Leading 12-10 at halftime in their game, Wolmer's maintained their form to the end but it was the senior match that held spectators spellbound.
Edwin Allen and St Hugh's both converted their first centre pass but the former took the early lead at 3-1 before the latter rallied and kept the score level up to 6-6.
Boasting a compact attack, St Hugh's forged ahead for a 15-12 lead at halftime but poor ball control forced them to relinquish their position as Edwin Allen took over at 18-17.
From there on it was tit-for-tat as opposing shooters Taneisha Campbell and Shawna James for Edwin Allen and St Hugh's Shareeka Elliot and Marion Campbell did their best to convert every attempt.
Elliot had an off day, missing countless shots, as the St Hugh's defence worked overtime to restrain the Edwin Allen attack.
The new champions had a number of turnovers in mid-court but quickly redeemed themselves through Natalie Johnson, Demoya Hall and defenders Paula Thompson and Nicola White.
St Hugh's caught up at 27-27 but it was not enough as Campbell sunk the last basket for her team, handing it victory.
Edwin Allen, despite their poor start, came back strongly and this determined effort was what coach Minneth Reynolds believes took them through.
"I am so elated. It was a hard final but a good one and in the end we came out champions," Reynolds said. "I realised that the ball wasn't getting down and the passes were not together, plus the goal shoot was in the wrong position, that's why we lost the first half but we corrected the problems and came back strongly in the second half and that helped us win.
"We lost by a point last year and here we have come back to win by a point," she said.
St Hugh's coach Joan Cargill was not so gracious in defeat.
"I shouldn't have to tell you that. You should know," was her response to questions regarding the factors that contributed to her team's loss.
