Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Murphy ... led BNS in scoring. - File

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 'A' handed defending champions General Accident their first defeat of the season in the Locker Room Sports Business netball competition, beating them 37-34 on Saturday at The Queen's School.

In the day's other game, Jamaica Broilers stopped National Commercial Bank (NCB) 30-20.

Despite the defeat, General Accident still lead the standings with 27 points, followed by BNS (21), Jamaica Broilers (15), Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) (nine) and NCB (three).

First half contested

The first half was closely contested with BNS clinging to a two-goal lead at (19-17) at half-time.

Marsha Murphy then scored nine of her game-high 28 goals in the third period to maintain BNS two-goal cushion (27-25) at the end of the period.

General Accident, through national centre Nadine Bryan who was playing at the goal attack position and former national player Oberon Pitterson, fought their way back in the fourth period to tie the game 33-33 with less than two minutes remaining.

However, two crucial turnovers by General Accident resulted in Scotiabank's goal attack, Viola Francis, scoring her team's last three goals as they held on for victory.

Pitterson ended the match with 27 goals from 32 attempts and Bryan scored seven goals from 11 tries. Francis hit nine goals from 14 attempts.

Wayne Shaw, assistant manager of Scotiabank, was elated with his team's performance.

"It was an exciting victory for us because they beat us by one goal the last time we met, but we were able to return the compliments today and I happy for this," said Shaw.

Shaw added that he is very optimistic his team can come out victorious this year. They haven't won the competition since 2003.

"I am very confident we are going to win because the girls are training very hard and they are putting everything in it to win this competition," Shaw said.

Pitterson, who is the captain of General Accident, said: "I'm disappointed that we lost because I think played a little lackadaisical in the beginning. We tried to pick it up in the second half but our timing was off.

Consistency

"We need to work on our consistency going into the play-offs and ensure that we get everything right because I am sure that we are going to meet them again, either in the semi-finals or the finals," Pitterson added.

In Junior League action, Pan Caribbean defeated Transport Authority 17-7, Jamaica Flour Mills stopped Norman Manley International Airport 14-9 and Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica edged Lasco 18-16.

Meanwhile in the Senior 'B' League matches, Scotiabank 'B' beat Jamaica Constabulary Force 'B' 30-27 and Heart Trust NTA whipped Grant Stewart Phillips 47-29.