Excelsior, Norman Manley to meet in Urban netball final

New champions will be crowned next Wednesday in the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) Urban Schoolgirl Senior netball competition, following semi-finals action on Wednesday at the Leila Robinson Courts, where defending champions Gaynstead High were beaten 36-34 by 2017 champions Excelsior High.

Excelsior will meet first-time finalists Norman Manley High, who turned back St Catherine High 34-27 in their semi-final.

It was not all bad news for Gaynstead, who stayed on course to retain their Junior title after getting by Immaculate Conception 26-18 to book a date with St Hugh’s in the final after their big 42-22 win over Ardenne.

DETHRONED CHAMPIONS

After losing their final match in the second round two days earlier to Norman Manley, there were signs that Gaynstead’s Seniors would struggle against their unbeaten counterparts from Excelsior as the Christopher Smart-coached team had been the most impressive all season.

However, the now dethroned champions, despite losing the majority of their players from last year’s winning group, showed commendable resolve throughout the fiercely contested matchup.

After seeing their opponents squeeze to 7-6, 17-15, and 29-21 leads after three quarters, they rallied in the final stanza to outscore their opponents 13-4. This, however, proved to be too little too late, and with Excelsior defenders Jaina Rodney, Kamla Daley, and Patrice Rankine in good form, the Mountain View Avenue-based school was able to withstand the late Gaynstead pressure and hold on for the win.

The defeat was a triple blow for Gaynstead as they also lost the chance to defend their All-Island and AFNA titles.

Meanwhile, it was a historic occasion for the Wayne Wallace-coached Norman Manley team, who advanced to their first Senior final after ambushing the Phyllis Thompson-coached St Catherine High team in workmanlike fashion.

Building on their surprise win over Gaynstead earlier in the week, which helped them to top their group, Norman Manley proved that their win was no fluke, thanks to excellent all-round play from Goal Attack Shanelle Bentley, Goal shooter Leisha Smith, Centre Gabrielle Davidson, along with Goal Defence Natalie Casselle and Goal keeper Shenell Montgommery in particular.

It was one-way traffic throughout as after a 9-7 first-quarter lead, they stepped up the pace for the remainder of the game, leading 18-14 at the half-time break then 25-19 after the third quarter before sealing the deal 34-27 in the end.