WITH the standard of the visiting teams unknown, the Jersey Open netball tournament was eagerly anticipated - and it exceeded expectation with Jersey’s Convent triumphant with a 15-13 win over fellow-Caesareans St Brelade in the final.
These two teams topped their respective groups at the end of the first day of competition, which had been fast and exciting - and very close between all the teams involved.The 14 competing teams were split into two groups and played six 20-minute games at Fort Regent.Convent and St.
Brelade took control of their respective groups and won all of their games.Convent used their young squad well, giving valuable exposure to these up and coming players while St Ouen dropped points only in their encounter against Convent to give them second place in Group A with Business Moves in third.SAS from Middlesex once again proved to be strong contenders, making their presence known on the court, and contesting every ball.
The movement from their centre players was superb, and illustrated the contrast in style of play with that usually seen in Jersey.
Goal difference secured them second place in Group B from Jockeys of Berkshire, who missed the cut by one goal.Group B proved the tougher of the two sections, with every game going to the wire and final places decided only on the outcome of the last games of that day.
Waterside Water Babies, from Weymouth, finished fourth and made the quota for the main trophy competition on day two.On Sunday, St Brelade raised their game and produced skilful, open play with the accuracy of their shooters playing a major part to gain them top spot in Group A.
Their tussle with SAS was very close but they hung on to win 17-12 to set up a meeting in the final with Convent, who had beaten a very determined St Ouen side 13-10.Earlier, some of the young Convent players had buckled under the determined challenge of the SAS girls, and they suffered their first - and only - defeat of the tournament 10-13.As with any tournament, physical fitness was a telling factor on day two and the lack of it showed as some teams struggled.Full report in today’s JEP.
Article posted on 4th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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