Guardian ( Trinidad and Tobago )
11 March 2023 ( Page 36 )
UTT, UTC, Fire teams advance in Jean Pierre Challenge
The University of T&T (UTT) had the easiest of victories in
their quest for glory in the Jean Pierre Challenge
Knockout match in the Championship Division of the
Courts All Sectors Netball League on Thursday at the
Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua.
However, it was a grinding contest for the Fire Youth
team which emerged from Group X and the other Fire
team, which advanced from Group Y of the
championships division.
The university women (UTT) progressed without even
taking the court, courtesy of a default win over the
Defence Force, which failed to show for the encounter.
The win means they have advanced to the quarterfinals of
the playoffs, which will continue today.
On the other hand, the Fire Youth tried to follow in the
footsteps of their Premiership Division team, who won
the opening day and Open Division knockouts, by
defeating Bermudez, 15-11, to book their spot into the
quarterfinals.
Jelissa Goodridge led the way with 14 goals from 25
attempts, while Daniella Hall was not at her best, but
added one goal from eight tries that proved to be
sufficient on the day.
The usually-competitive Bermudez team did not deliver
as they normally would, despite a near-perfect eightfrom-nine-record from Jocelyn Marcelle and three from
eight from Zakiya Mc Kenna that saw them narrowly trail
at the half, 8-7.
Meanwhile, the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) also moved
to the semifinals, after demolishing Jabloteh 29-8.
Goal-shooter Liliah Matthews drained 22 goals from 30
tries and Stacy Ann Gill, five from 11, as the UTC women
led at halftime 13-1 in the 15-minute-a-half match.
The San Juan women got four goals each from the hands
of Latoya Thomas and Samantha James-Lewis in their
losing effort.
Meanwhile, Fire, the front-runner in Group Y, battled to a
20-13 triumph over the MIC Tigers that earned them a
place into the quarterfinals.
The usual suspect Nariba Grant spearheaded the win with
12 from 16. She was supported by Akeela Rodriguez who
had six of eight.
PICTURE DANIEL PRENTICE-
Fire goal-shooter Nariba Grant, right, shoots against
leading TT Post goalkeeper Crystal Jones during the
Championships Division of the Courts All Sectors
Netball League at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports
Arena in Tacarigua on March 2. On Thursday, Grant
scored 12 goals from 16 attempts to lead Fire to a 20-13
win over MIC in the Jean Pierre Knockout Challenge.