Wolmer’s edge Hydel 14-12 to cop JISA Prep netball title
WOLMER’S Prep registered a close 14-12 win over Hydel Prep to capture the 2015 Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA) Preparatory Schools netball title in the final played at the Leila Robinson Courts, Independence Park Sports Complex, recently.
The win was the second for the Maurescaux Road-based Wolmerians, as prior to the start of the league season they won the Opening Rally title, also over Hydel in the final.
Coach Maurice Edwards of Wolmer’s said he was very elated for the win, as it was many years since they have won this title. “It was also my second title this year and it is also a great achievement for the team and also for me in only 16 months as coach.
“It was a sweet victory for us to come from trailing as we really wanted to take it home. However, it was not an easy match as it was a very hard-fought encounter with Hydel. The players also were a bit nervous in the first two quarters,” Edwards said.
Edwards said he made a few changes, with his key players coming into the third quarter before bringing them back into the match. They eventually began to dominate the fourth and final quarter, and took over the game despite the keen challenge produced by Hydel.
Meanwhile, Hydel’s Coach Lorraine Miller was not too pleased with how close her team came to winning, but said the girls played extremely well.
“They were not scoring the goals they had in the shooting circle, as the shooters missed the attempts on a number of occasions when we were just one goal adrift in the fourth quarter (12-11). We missed the chances of equalising or going in front as we got the opportunities to do so,” Miller said.
She noted that the girls might have been a bit nervous as a result of the noise and loud cheers of the spectators which they are not accustomed to hearing. “Congratulations, however, to Wolmer’s for coming out as champions.”
The quarterly scores were 1-5, 6-6, 9-8, before finally going on to win 14-12.
Meanwhile, third place went to Mona Prep who beat St Catherine Prep 12-9 after leading 6-5 at half-time.
The JISA Private High Schools final was won by Victor Dixon High, who clipped St Joseph’s High 13-12 after taking a 7-6 lead at the interval. Third place went to King’s Way who beat Bethel High 15-10. Defending champions Institute of Academic Excellence (IAE) did not enter the seven-school competition.
The netball competition was sponsored by Tastee Limited, Peak Bottling (Purewater), Hi-Lite Sports Drink, Ensure/PediaSure, JAREFA, Locker Room Sports, and Laribo Marketing and Consultant.