By Vernlyn Zakers
The netball game of the week took place last Saturday between the defending champions Coca Cola Shamrocks and Carib Pearl Cayon Pacers.
The game started with a bit of a controversy when the Shamrocks unveiled two Jamaican players in their starting line-up.
The defending champions have been heavily criticized for importing Jamaicans — who do not reside in the Federation — to play on the team.
“If it was not for the Jamaicans, Shamrocks would not be the champion,” one spectator shouted from the stands.
However, the Pacers did not seem to be intimidated by the Shamrocks’ Jamaican flavor.
The game began with Pacers playing with a high level of intensity, which the Shamrocks were unable to match.
Pacers goal shooter Jackie Bassue was perfect, as she made most of her attempts and by the end of the first quarter, pacers led 11-5.
The Shamrocks turned up the heat in the second quarter, but Pacers goalkeeper Shernelee Liburd, was just too good to score on. The half ended with Pacers leading 19-15.
Slowly, but surely the Shamrocks were chipping away at the lead. By the end of the third quarter the Shamrocks were in striking distance, with the score 24-21 in favor of Pacers.
By now Netball City was jammed with people as the game got more excited, and the Shamrocks were able to eventually tie the score.
Tension began to flare in the fourth quarter as the referees blew an abundance of contact calls. However, when the final whistle blew the Pacers was able to hold on to win 30-29.
The win, now thrust Pacers as the team to beat in Division One of the National Bank Netball League. Especially since it is unclear who won the game between Newtown and the relentless Nagico Capisterre Ballstars.
That game was also played on Saturday. According to field reports when the final whistle blew it was announced that the game ended in a draw. However, the stats told a different score and the game is currently under review by the league.
Capisterre is the hottest team in the league right now, and will go up against the Shamrocks tomorrow. This game promises to be electrifying as the Shamrocks ladies are looking to take out their frustration on a very explosive Capisterre team.
Also tomorrow Pacers will again be tested, when the team goes up against bmobile Newtown, the only undefeated team in the league. The winner of this game would be the top team in the league.
The league has gotten exciting with the championship contenders — Capisterre, Newtown and Cayon — get set to run the tables.
Last Friday
Junior Games
Cayon High Schools defeats Basseterre High 31-14
Washington Archibald High defeats Verchilds High 15-3
Saddlers Ballstars defeats Basseterre High 18-17
Sunday
Division One and Two games
Nagico Capisterre Shooters defeat Molineux Netball Club 30-23
Carib Pearl Cayon Pacers defeat Coca Cola Shamrocks 30-29
Sunday
Division One and Two games
Innovative Solutions Parsons United defeat Coca Cola Shamrock 35-14
Sandy Point Ball Stars defeat Polstars 36-2
Nagico Capisterre Ballstars defeat Digicel Trendsetters 23-18
Pegasus defeat Coca Cola Shamrocks 40-39
Tuesday
Junior Division
Washington Archibald High (2) defeats SportsZone St. Pauls Netball Club 21-19
Washington Archibald High (1) defeats Cayon High School 23-12
Basseterre High School (1) defeats Verchilds High School 36-8
