CONVENT kept alive their Island netball title hopes last night after defeating champions St Clement A.

The former champions won their Deutsche Bank Winter League game 38-30 at the FB Fields to move to within striking distance of leaders St Clement – with the teams meeting again on 16 March.Convent A goal-attack Jackie Norman said: ‘It was a great result for us and I felt we deserved it as we controlled the game.

Everyone was focused after our recent league defeat and youngsters Holley Oakes and Sophie Holmes both played really well.’We put in a good performance and had some excellent support from the touch-lines.’St Clement shooter Zoe Le Var said: ‘Convent were well up for the game following their defeat by St Brelade and they forced us to make mistakes.’We tried hard but with a few indifferent spells during the game we were not at our best on the night.

However, the title is still within our grasp and we will retain it if we can win all our remaining games.’It was a lively match sprinkled with calls of obstruction and simultaneous contact and umpires Paul Adamson and Anita Taylor-Fitch were kept busy throughout.The fixture attracted a good crowd and after a settling-in period Convent led 9-8 following some perfectly-executed centres from Mary Blampied into the receiving hands of wing-attack Chris Hicks.St Clement produced some passionate play in the second period.

Superb mid-air passes from wing-attack Jenna Bushell into shooter Zoe Hotton kept the Saints in the game as Hotton capitalised with goals.Convent were still ahead at half time, 20-16.

They increased the pace with Norman scoring shots of superlative quality.

Norman was assisted by young goal-shooter Sophie Holmes, whose confidence grew throughout the game.St Clement rose to the challenge before them and despite stoppages for minor injuries they fought hard for every ball.Convent’s defense of Jane Le Feuvre, Ellen Richings and the young and talented Holly Oakes were under pressure to keep the attack out of the D.Saints’ goal-attack Shelby Houghton created some good out-of-circle work to feed shooter Hotton and St Clement trailed 27-24 going into the final period.With no substitutions made or any changes within the team, the tension mounted.

St Clement keeper Sharon West picked off a few interceptions that encouraged her side and for the first few minutes they were in the ascendency.However, Convent gave an equally strong and gutsy performance and they went on to finish deserved winners.