Harwood leads Orchids to close win over Spurs
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS St.Ann Orchids showed that they are ready for any challenge to their crown when they turned back red-hot Manchester Spurs with a nailbiting 35-34 win in Netball Jamaica's Berger Elite League on Thursday night at the Leila Robinson Courts, National Stadium complex.
National shooter Thristina Harwood, with 17 goals from 19 attempts, led the Orchids in scoring alongside Simone Gordon, who sank 17 of 26 tries. Rebekah Robinson scored the other goal from four tries.
Harwood noted several things that contributed to their outcome in the reverse fixture.
"The first time we played Spurs, we didn't have Simone and we were playing a fastpaced game," Harwood said of her shooting partner and team. "This time around, we had Simone. She's a great asset to the team with her height in the circle, and with our attackers being patient with the ball and working it around, we were able to secure a victory."
Harwood also commented on her team's defence, plus her personal contribution.
"We have a good defensive unit," she said. "Their attack is really, really quick and our defenders provided a really good matchup."
Prior to the matchup, the Connie Francis-coached Manchester Spurs had displayed all-conquering form, deflecting all challengers in winning all their first six matches, including a 37-32 win over the Orchids in their first-round meeting.
This time around, St Ann Orchids, the defending champions who are coached by another former national player, Janet Guy, turned the tables to triumph in the see-saw encounter as they maintained third place with their fourth win and moved to 12 points from six matches.
Anna-Kay Griffiths was the high-scorer for the Spurs with 19 goals from 23 points, while Nicole Dixon, 13 of 23, Giselle Allison, one from two, and Khadijah Williams, one of five, were the other scorers.
Manchester Spurs still lead the standings with 18 points, with Kingston Hummingbirds second on 15 points after scoring five wins in eight matches. St Catherine Racers hold the fourth play-off spot in the six-team preliminaries, with nine points. St. James Sharpes are fifth on six points, while Clarendon Gaters are yet to win a point.
Each team will play 10 preliminary round matches and the top four will advance to the play-offs.