Champs Crystal make winning start

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Champions Crystal began the defence of their Hunger Busta/Impact Auto St James Netball Association (StJNA) Senior League in fine style on Sunday, when they scored a resounding 41-21 win against Zone A rivals Blazers, in the competition's opening game at Montego Bay Boys' Club.

In a clinical display, which saw them winning the first three quarters 9-3, 10-4 and 14-5 , respectively before surrendering the final quarter 9-8, the Crystal team controlled the pace of the game, which basically kept their opponents at bay.

"We came into today's game fully focused and ready to give a good account of ourselves and we managed to do just that," said Crystal's captain Gina Haughton.

"We know that as the defending champions all the teams will be gunning for us, but be ready as we fully intend to retain our title," she added.

curtain-raiser

The scheduled game between last year's beaten finalists, Twelve Stars, and Zone B opponents Sting, which should have been the curtain-raiser in the season's opening double-header, was not played as a result of a foul-up in the fixtures.

The Crystal versus Blazers match-up, which promised much excitement, was somewhat anti-climatic as the champions basically had a field day against their opponents. With centre Dahlia Rickettes and the goal attack combining well, Crystal's goal shooter Amayla Stewart was fed with accurate passes all game long, as she ended with a game-high 33 goals.

After their comfortable 9-3 first -quarter lead, Crystal continued to control the flow of the game as with veteran goal defence Suzette Virgo keeping the defence rock solid, they took the second quarter easily to open up a commanding 19-7 half-time lead.

The third quarter started with Blazers making a major push to get back into the game, but despite the efforts of their dynamic centre Fiona Gibbs and goal shooter Monique Bingham, they basically struggled to disrupt Crystal's momentum as they lost the quarter 14-5 to trail 33-12 going into the final quarter.

In the final quarter, Crystal took their feet off the gas with victory all but assured. Blazers grabbed the opportunity to show off their attacking skills, taking the quarter 9-8 as goal shooter Bingham, who got all nine goals, lifted her tally to 18 goals.

"We would have loved to have won this game but unfortunately we did not," said Gibbs, who was easily Blazers' most influential player. "The good thing is that we have time to bounce back."