THE Queen’s School produced two brilliant displays in defending their double titles in the Junior and Senior League finals of the 2013 ISSA/Digicel Urban Area High Schoolgirls Netball Competition at the Leila Robinson Courts on Wednesday.

Queen’s have now captured the Junior League six times, while it was their second straight year winning the Senior League title.

In the Junior League game, Queen’s defeated Tarrant High 35-16, while the Senior girls beat perennial contenders and former many-time champions St Hugh’s 36-21.

Meanwhile, play started very late –some two hours behind due to mid-afternoon showers, and it also took some time before the playing surface was dried, the players themselves taking on the job.

As was expected, Queen’s were highly fancied to beat first-time finalist Tarrant High, and started the process by leading 8-5 in the first quarter.

The Queen’s shooting duo of national Under-21 goal-shooter Simone Gordon and Shanique Francis combined well with support from Bless-Sade Lindo, Danika Ferguson and Britney Shae, helping the team to increase the lead 17-10 at the half-time break.

Tarrant came into the third quarter trying to match the nimble paceof the Queen’s girls, but were left in their dust despite their goal-shooter Akalia Ferrigon doing her best at the other end to keep the score respectable. The defending champions led 25-12 at the final break.

It was all Queen’s in the fourth and final quarter, as they made easy work of Tarrant. With the latter’s best efforts, they could not break down Queen’s defenders, Swan Dougles and Hasana Williams, and the defending champions went on to 35-16.

Gordon of Queen’s netted 28 goals from 34 attempts, while Ferrigon of Tarrant scored 12 goals from 17 efforts. Gordon of Queen’s was named the Most Valuable Player of the final.

Meanwhile, action in the Senior League final between defending champions Queen’s and former many-time champions St Hugh’s was hotly contested from the opening quarter.

St Hugh’s started off well in the first quarter by taking a 4-0 lead as Queen’s found themselves over-passing the ball, and sometimes wasted their turnovers as a result of suspected overconfidence. They eventually scored their first goal at 4-1, tied at 4-4 before leading 7-4 at the break.

The second quarter was just as intense as the first, although Queen’s had the edge in scoring. St Hugh’s tied at 7-7, took the lead 9-8 as they regained their momentum with goal-shooter Kadie-Ann Dunkley coming into her own, with support from Sacha-Lee Harris, Titanya Blackstock and Jennella Jones.

Queen’s regained their rhythm once more to tie at 10-10, regained the lead and went into the half-time break with a 15-10 lead.

The defending champions showed that they are the best team in the urban area competition, as in the third quarter, they began dominating play with fast-attacking combinations produced by Priscilla Thomas, Abigail Ferron, Amanda Dawkins and Khadijah Williams, while Shalloy Walter and Shemera Sterling produced brilliant displays of interceptions and blocking in defence. Queen’s led 25-16 at the end of the third quarter.

There was no stopping Queen’s in the final quarter as they were all over their opponents, swiftly breaking up their centre court and defensive plays. They coupled that with precise passes to the delight of their supporters and spectators as St Hugh’s failed to respond appropriately.

Queen’s shooters, especially goal-shooter Shanice Beckford and Williams, were in fine form as they were in full control and scored eleven goals between them to St Hugh’s five goals, to register a convincing 35-21 win.

For Queen’s, Beckford netted 26 goals from 33 attempts and Williams had 10 goals from 12 efforts, while for St Hugh’s Dunkley scored 21 goals from 33 attempts. Williams of Queen’s was adjudged the Most Valuable Player in the final.

Meanwhile, due to the late start as a result of the rain on Wednesday afternoon, it was decided that third-place play-off trophies be shared. In the Juniors, Norman Manley High and Camperdown High will were due to meet, while StAndrew High and Holy Childhood High were due for a Seniors showdown.