Scotiabank outlast ATL in Senior League netball
FORMER many-time champions Scotiabank held off a spirited challenge from Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) A to win 54-47 at Leila Robinson Courts last Tuesday night, and advance to the final of the 2019 Business House Netball Association (BHNA) Senior A/B League.
Scotiabank will play defending champions National Housing Trust (NHT) in tomorrow’s final. Entering the game both teams were tied on 15 points, with the winner assured of a place in the final.
It was always expected to be tough as the sides have shared honours in their two previous meetings this season.
It proved to be an evenly contested encounter in the first quarter, with Scotiabank holding a slim 14-12 lead at the first break.
The Winston Nevers-coached Scotiabank took charge of the second quarter, especially through the efforts of goal shooter Marsha Murphy-Dawkins and goal attack Tennisha Bernard.
They were supported by attacking centre plays from Patrtcia McCall and Shanna Lambert.
During that time ATL’s shooting pair of Gezelle Allison and Zanasha Hinds hardly received passes from their centre court players.
Conique Moore, Amanda Thompson and Shanice Evelyn struggled to contend with the bankers as ATL went into the half-time break trailing 22-34.
In the third quarter, ATL looked much sharper in their approach, and their centre- court plays were much improved. The ATL rally saw them cut the deficit to 33-38, but Scotiabank soon responded and regained control to lead 46-35 heading into the final break.
It was a case of now or never for ATL who needed to score quick goals in the fourth and final quarter. They did mount a spirited comeback, particularly in the last five minutes, but in the end it was too late.
Scotiabank’s Murphy-Dawkins netted 38 goals from 45 attempts and Bernard struck 16 goals from 27 tries, while for ATL A, Allison scored 27 goals from 41 attempts. Hinds hit 20 goals from 27 attempts.
In another Senior A League game, Jamaica National (JN) Group defeated Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) 44-37. Rebekah Robinson scored 29 goals from 39 attempts, and Nadine Cushnie Vassell scored 15 goals from 19 attempts for JN Group.
Meleshia Joseph scored 29 goals from 35 attempts for KSAMC. Guardsman Group beat JMMB Bank 26-23 in the Intermediate B League, while Jamaica Public Service clipped Hardware and Lumber 41-40 in an Intermediate A League game.
—Gerald Reid
