Denbigh High school from Clarendon claimed their second ISSA all-island senior schoolgirl netball title after scoring a hard-fought 34-28 win over Wolmer's Girls' at Brook's Park in Mandeville on Tuesday.

Wolmer's were earlier on course for four titles after edging Old Harbour High, 18-17, in the junior final.

In the feature, however, Anna-Kay Griffiths bagged 24 baskets from 27 attempts and Shauna Jones 10 from 12 for Denbigh.

Danielle Lowers posted 14 goals from 20 tries for Wolmer's, with Tuana-Che Campbell also scoring 14 from 19 attempts.

Winning coach Annett Daley thought her team had a poor first half but believes her attackers kept them in the match.

"The first half we did not play the way we ought to. I think they were a little intimidated being at the big final the nerves kicked in, but the attack stepped up... and I guess that kept us leading at all times," she said.

Daley's side started quickly with prolific goal-shooter Griffiths leading the way as the Clarendon side took the early lead.
But Wolmer's, led by Lowers and Campbell in attack, proved a handful for Denbigh defenders Samantha Mundle and Kemesha Christian.

Denbigh ended the first half ahead, 14-11; however, immediately on the resumption Wolmer's started their fightback, forcing a number of turnovers from their opponents.

They eventually drew level, 22-22, after scoring four unanswered points with just over five minutes remaining. But that was the closest the Corporate Area champs got as Jones stepped up and with Griffiths on top of her game, the rural area champions rallied with four unanswered points of their own to stretch the lead to five (29-24) with over a minute to play.

Coach Robert White blamed "poor passes" for his team's defeat.

"We did not show our true potential... I guess they were more hungry for the Corporate Area title, but for the all-island I did not see them show that zest to win," he said.

Although pleased with the national junior crown, White said he would rather have won the all-island senior crown.
"I was hoping that we would have won the seniors because that was the one we really, really wanted, but if we did not make so many turnovers we could have won...," he said.

In the junior match-up, Sara-Lee Campbell bagged 13 points and Sarah-Lee Wallen five as Wolmer's turned back Old Harbour in an exciting game after leading 11-10 at the break
Sheree Spence led the Old Harbour offence with 16 points.

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