Holmwood regain rural netball title

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Holmwood Technical dethroned reigning Digicel/ISSA rural senior netball champions Denbigh High champions 34-30 in a closely fought final at Manchester High yesterday.

Denbigh started stronger and led 9-7 after the first quarter. The teams were locked at 18-18 at the half-time interval before Holmwood pulled away 29-23 in a decisive third quarter.

The final result was a reversal of last year's final at the same venue, where Denbigh ended Holmwood's five-year run as champions. Carlene Graham-Powell, who has guided Holmwood's netball programme over many years, said the championship was regained utilising the right attitude towards the game.

"Last year, we had a strong team ... but the girls did not play as a unit," an usually calm Graham-Powell told The Gleaner. "This year, we have a younger team which works hard and the girls are humble."

She also paid tribute to captain Denene Taylor, who netted all but five of their total goals.

"We also have a captain who understands teamwork and is humble, and the others feed from that," Graham-Powell said of Taylor, who is a national player.

Christine Bartley, coach at Denbigh, said her team failed to rise to the occasion and lost energy in the crucial third quarter.

"We had a good chance, but we never played to our best."

She admitted the game swung in Holmwood's favour in the third quarter when her team lost energy and failed to keep out Holmwood's pint-sized substitute goal attack Nicole Dixon, who netted five of seven attempts.

"We started flat and with not a lot of confidence and realised too late (Dixon's role)," Bartley added.

The rivalry is expected to continue as both coaches expect to retain the majority of their starting line-up for next year.

In the third-place play-off, Edwin Allen defeated Knox 31-29. Meanwhile, in the junior final, Manchester High defeated Anchovy High 23-17.