Edwin Allen's goal shooter Francine Pommells (left) defends against Denbigh's goal keeper Nackeisha Petes during yesterday's Colgate/ISSA High Schoolgirls Rural Senior netball final at G.C. Foster. Edwin Allen won 39-22. - Ian AllenEDWIN Allen Comprehensive won the Colgate/ISSA High Schoolgirls Rural Senior and Junior netball titles for the second straight year at the G.C. Foster College Gymnasium, Spanish Town, yesterday.
The junior team edged Mannings 29-28 while the senior squad stopped Denbigh 39-22.
Edwin Allen will now battle Dunoon Technical and Charlie Smith Comprehensive in the All-Island Senior and Junior finals this Friday at G.C. Foster, starting at 1:00 p.m. Edwin Allen are the defending champions.
The senior match started out defensively as the first goal was not scored until about the four-minute mark by Edwin Allen who went on a canter after that and led 6-0 at one point.
But the Denbigh team made a brave comeback to draw even at 6-all, 11 minutes into the match, however Edwin Allen regrouped through twins Francine (GS) and Frances (GD) Pommells - leading the attack and defence, respectively - to claim a 17-9 edge at half-time.
The second stanza turned into a one-sided affair in Edwin Allen's favour as they went on to outscore Denbigh 22-13.
The Junior final was more exciting. Edwin Allen led 10-5 at one stage, but the Mannings team went on a stealing mission thereafter to trim the deficit and tie the score at 11-all. At the break, Edwin Allen led 14-11.
On resumption, things changed dramatically as the scores were even on four occasions.
With just over a minute remaining, the score read 28-24 in Edwin Allen's favour but Mannings capitalised on some defensive lapses to tie the score at 28-28. However, following some good play from centre court, goal shooter Tanisha Campbell got the ball and scored on the dot of regulation time to earn Edwin Allen the crown.
Third place playoffs: JUNIORS - Bellefield Comprehensive bt. Maldon 12-9. SENIORS: Bellefield bt. Yallahs 32-31.
