Excelsior, Norman Manley clash in Urban Area netball final

THE best Corporate Area teams in schoolgirl netball will be known today as the ISSA Urban Area Junior and Senior finals will be take place at the Leila Robinson Courts, starting at 4 p.m.

Gaynstead will oppose St Hugh’s in junior action, while in the feature, Excelsior High School will meet Norman Manley High School for the senior crown.

A new champion will be crowned among the seniors after first-time finalists Norman Manley got by former champions St Catherine High, 34-27, while 2017 champions Excelsior carved out a two-goal win over dethroned champions Gaynstead High, after defeating them 36-34 in their semi-finals meetings a week ago at the same venue.

Both coaches, Christopher Smart of Excelsior High and Wayne Wallace of Norman Manley High, are upbeat and confident going into today’s final.

The teams will be meeting for the second time this season, with Excelsior securing a six-goal win over Norman Manley while playing away in their preliminary-stage meeting.

UNBEATEN STATUS

Smart is hoping his girls can end the season on a high and continue their unbeaten status.

“We do not expect it to be easy, as I do not expect Norman Manley to come and hand it to us. They will need it more than us,” said Smart. “Although we beat them on their home court earlier in the season by six goals, it is a different affair now as it should be much closer, but my girls are confident and self-belief is high.”

Meanwhile, after losing to Gaynstead last season in the junior final, Wallace thinks his senior team can go all the way.

“We will be coming to play old-school netball just to go in front and get the ball, as we do not care about flair. When we lost to Excelsior earlier this season, we were without our top player, national under-21 representative goal shooter Shaniel Bentley, and they were competitive. Her presence now, along with goal attack Suthania Dyer, will make a big difference,” said Wallace, who stated that six members from last year’s junior team will be in his senior squad.

In the Junior final, defending champions Gaynstead, who got by Immaculate Conception 26-18 in their semi-final, will be hoping for a three-peat. They will, however, have their hands full from a very impressive St Hugh’s team, which blew away Ardenne 42-22.