GAYNSTEAD High and St Catherine High advanced to the 2018 Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Challenge Cup Urban High School netball semi-finals via goal averages at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday.

The win for both Gaynstead and St Catherine resulted in a three-way tie along with Norman Manley High where they were locked on 12 points each. Goal averages were then applied to determine which two teams would qualify for the semi-finals. All three teams had lost one match each in the six-team competition.

Gaynstead came out on top with the best goal average scoring 166 goals with 103 against (1.61), followed by St Catherine with 214 goals and 133 against (1.61), with Norman Manley in third position scoring 148 goals with 99 against (1.49).

Gaynstead defeated Norman Manley 34-30 in a very competitive game that could have gone either way, while St Catherine made easy work of St Hugh’s with a one-sided convincing 68-17 win.

Dalton Hinds, coach of Gaynstead, said he was very happy as the players know that they had to win to have any chance of securing a place in the semi-finals.

“It was very important to win and not by any number of goals as Gaynstead had a better goal average than our opponents prior to the match. The girls put pressure on themselves in the final quarter after they led by eight goals at half-time,” Hinds said.

He said they allowed Norman Manley to come right back into the game and close the lead by one point, 27-26. “Our main goal-attack was injured and had to be replaced and Norman Manley gradually started to score goals. However, we have a talented pool of players to select (from) to play and we held out strongly to win.”

Gaynstead will meet Rural Area high school winner Manchester in the semi-finals, and Hinds said it should be very competitive.

Meanwhile, Phyllis Thompson, coach of St Catherine High, said it was a good win.

“The players gave it their all from the first quarter and by half-time they took a commanding lead over their opponents and also gave them little chance of coming back into contention,” Thomas said.

She said she expects a very competitive game against May Day High in tomorrow’s semi-finals at Manchester High School. “We are looking to come out victorious and clinch a berth in the final.”

Both semi-finals will be played tomorrow at the Manchester High School netball court, starting at 3:00 pm.