SPANISH Town Strikers held off a late challenge from Duhaney Park Strikers to secure a 28-26 win in the 2013 Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL)/Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) Minor League final played at the National Arena last Saturday.

It was the first final and also the first triumph for the Jason Robinson-coached Spanish Town Strikers, while it was the second final for the Omar Williams-coached Duhaney Park Strikers.

The first quarter of the match was evenly contested with the scores locked at five, and seven before Spanish Town Strikers scores two unanswered goals to go up at the first break.

Duhaney Park Strikers played a much better second quarter to end the half at 15-15, and at the end of the third break the scores were still level at 20-20.

Spanish Town Strikers scored four goals to their opponents’ two for a 24-22 lead at the early stages of the fourth and final quarter of the match. They took a four-goal lead 26-22 with five minutes remaining, but Duhaney Strikers rallied to close at 27-26 and it was anybody’s game then.

With just a minute remaining in the match, Duhaney Park Strikers had possession of the ball and inside the shooting circle goal-shooter Nicola Tyrell missed the shot that could have tied the game. Spanish Town Strikers countered and goal-shooter Monesa Burrell scored to give her team an exciting 28-26 victory.

For Spanish Town Strikers, Monesa Burrell netted 23 goals from 28 attempts, while for Duhaney Park Strikers Tyrell scored 18 goals from 25 attempts.

Winning coach Robinson was ecstatic. “I am very elated and excited.

“When Duhaney Park Strikers took the lead in the third quarter, tears fell from my eyes, but when we eventually won the match, more tears began to flow,” Robinson said.

Losing coach Williams said the players lost concentration in the last 10 minutes of the game. “If we had stuck to our game plan, we would have won, as we produced many turnovers and squandered our chances. Our opponents actually gave up when we were ahead by four goals, but the passes and turnovers proved to be the crucial factors.”

Spanish Town Strikers walked away with the winners’ first prize cash award of $85,000 and the championship trophy plus medals, while Duhaney Park Strikers received $70,000 and second-placed trophy and medals; SKIBO ‘B’ won $60,000 and third place trophy and bronze medals, while Tantrum collected $50,000 for fourth place.