Defence Force couldn’t have asked for a better start against Police in its opening Alternative Division match in the Courts All Sectors Netball League, but the soldier/sailor unit let it slip late in the match and fell to a 21-16 defeat.
It was Police leaving the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua, a happy bunch after going scoreless in the first quarter, trailing 7-0.
Giving Defence Force the advantage was goal-shooter Nekeisha Peters Williams. She ended with 11 goals in 16 tries.
At the half, the police officers rallied back and brought its deficit to within three (10-7) as goal-shooter Cheryse Aguilleria found her range while goal-attack Eisha Roach struggled to connect a goal and remained scoreless from three attempts.
The decision to use Dennisha Douglas as Roach’s replacement paid dividends as she partnered with Aguilleria to earn Police the lead in the third period, 14-12.
Douglas, not as accurate as she had hoped, went on to score 16 from 31 tries and Aguillera added the other five to help Police claim the hard-fought five-goal victory.
In the second match, the University of the West Indies (UWI) grabbed a narrow two-goal (30-28) win over the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) after leading at the end of the each quarter, 8-7, 14-13 and 24-19, respectively.
Goal-attack Zakiya McKenna led the scoring for the UWI team, producing 14 in 22. Glenda Edwards, who was also utilised in the goal-attack position, put in 13 of 19 and Crystal McIntosh got in three in eight.
Carla Victor was the best shooter of the evening but her 25 off 35 was not good enough to get USC the victory.
More matches are set for today with competition in the Championship Division.
RESULTS
Defence Force 16 (Nekeisha Peters Williams 11/16, Vanessa Brown 5/13, Celia Bonaparte 0/1) vs Police 21 (Cheryse Aguillera 5/20, Eisha Roach 0/3, Dennisha Douglas 16/31). Quarter scores: 7-0 (D Force), 10-7 (D Force), 14-12 (Police).
USC 28 (Carla Victor 25/35, Michelle Williams 3/8) vs UWI 30 (Crystal McIntosh 3/8, Zakiya McKenna 14/22, Glenda Edwards 13/19). Quarter scores: 8-7, 14-13, 24-19 (UWI)
MATCHES
Today
Championship Division
Las Lomas vs Defence Force, 5.30 pm
Police vs UTT, 6.45 pm
Saturday
Championship Division
Bermudez vs Las Lomas, 1 pm
Police vs Jabloteh, 2.15 pm
Premiership Division
Police vs UWI, 3.30 pm
Championship Division
TSTT vs Defence Force, 4.45 pm
Premiership Division
UTT vs Fire, 6 pm