ST CATHERINE Racers held off a spirited challenge from Under-21 Suns to win 41-34 as the 2016/2017 Berger Elite Netball League continued at the Leila Robinson Courts last Saturday.

The win was the fifth from six matches for Racers, who became the first qualifier for the semi-finals as they lead the point standings with 15 points with one game remaining against the Under-21 Shiners on Thursday.

St Ann Orchids are in second place with 12 points from five games, followed by Kingston Humming Birds nine from four, Manchester Spurs seven from four, St James Sharpes seven from five outings, Under-21 Suns six from four, Under-21 Shiners three from five starts, while defending champion Clarendon Gaters are without a point from five games.

The Racers led 11-8 after the first quarter break, but found the Under-21 Suns having the better of the exchanges in second quarter to outscore their opponents, and in the process, slipped into a one-goal lead at 19-18 at the half-time break.

It was a different approach taken by the Racers in the third quarter as they found themselves in a ding-dong battle with the Suns, and were able to regain the lead 28-24 at the third-quarter break.

The game, however, remained a very close encounter as the Suns tied it at 30-30 and went slightly in front by scoring their centre pass. Racers, however, did not allow the Suns to stay in front by stepping up the pace before pulling away to a 41-34 win.

For Racers, goal-attack Anna Kay Griffiths scored 23 goals from 30 attempts and goal attack Shedieky Hamilton-Barnes got 16 from 25, while captain and goal attack Hasana Williams netted 21 goals from 34 efforts, and goal shooter Simone Gordon with 11 goals from 14 efforts for the Suns.

Meanwhile, the Manchester Spurs defeated the Under-21 Shiners 60-24, Kingston Humming Birds pulled through with a 41-32 win over St James Sharpes.

— Gerald Reid