Gaters, Orchids battle for semi spot
CLARENDON GATERS and St Ann Orchids are gauging to leave it all on court in a no-holds-barred showdown in Netball Jamaica’s Berger Elite League at the Leila Robinson Courts today, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The match is the first of a double-header, which closes with a 7:45 p.m. encounter between defending champions Kingston Hummingbirds and St James Sharpes.
St Ann Orchids and Clarendon Gaters are in a desperate battle for a spot in the four-team playoffs, with the Orchids third with 10 points from seven matches and Gaters fourth with nine points from eight games.
“It’s a must-win. We want to make the play-offs; we can’t afford to lose against them either because if we lose, we won’t make it,” said national shooter Thristina Harwood, a key member of the St Ann Orchids outfit.
“I’m really certain that we will win, and myself, as well as my team, will come out really hard to secure that victory,” added Harwood, whose team won their first-round meeting 48-43.
The very influential Shadian Hemmings, Clarendon Gaters’ captain, also said a great deal rests on this matchup.
“We’re very desperate. Competing in the semi-finals, finals is what we’re here for, so we’re desperate to get there,” stated Hemmings.
“We have a pretty good chance. Spurs is one of the better teams in the competition attacking-wise, and the game that was displayed tonight, I’m sure my team can come better in the upcoming game,” she analysed following the Gaters’ competitive display against leaders Manchester Spurs on Monday.
On that night, St Ann Orchids and Clarendon Gaters ended with contrasting results, with the Orchids defeating St James Sharpes 58-49 and Gaters losing 43-46 against the very strong Manchester Spurs.
SLOW START
Orchids rallied from a slow start after trailing 10-12 to head the second and third quarters 28-27, 44-39 and continued pulling away. Simone Gordon was their high-scorer, with 37 goals from 44 attempts, while Harwood, the goal attack, scored 21 of 27 attempts.
Harwood, Rebekah Robinson and team captain Vangelee Williams numbered among the St Ann Orchids national trio who were missing through injury and surgery as the team went on a losing skid that included a massive 38-72 defeat to the Hummingbirds.
The Gaters are not blessed with that star power but have capable players such as Hemmings, Shadeiky Hamilton-Barnes and Petal Smith for experience, blended with youthful nationals Mischa Creary, Latanya Wilson and Amanda Pinkney, who can unsettle any unit.
Pinkney, with 19 goals from 25 attempts; Hemmings, 13 of 18; and Creary, 11 from 14, posed a combined threat to Spurs before narrowly losing 43-46 on Monday, rallying strongly down the stretch after trailing 13-9, 2719, 35-30 through the first three quarters.