Barbados

T&T netballers didn’t stay down for long as they bounced back from their one-goal (43-42) loss to Barbados on Friday night, to crush the visitors, 54-30, yesterday at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua. It was the second encounter in a three-match series which started on Friday at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando and ends today at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo. The “Calypso Girls” coached by Australian Karen Worland did a far better job defensively compared to their previous match. Defenders Crystal-Ann George, Kielle Connelly and Alicia “Lizzie” Liverpool were rotated in the defense for T&T and they improved greatly from the night before. They were supported well by their shooters, who was led by goal-shooter Anastasia Wilson, who scored 22 goals from 28 attempts. She partnered with captain Janelle Barker, the goal-attack, in the first two periods, helping T&T a 26-13 halftime advantage after leading 13-9 at the end of the opening session.

Barker was then shifted to the goal-shooter position when Joelisa Cooper entered the match as the goal-attack. Cooper went on to add 16 from 22, putting the “Calypso Girls” 17 goals head entering the final period. The duo kept T&T outfront and when Jellene Richardson replaced Cooper in the final five minutes, the local unit stayed resilient and finished off the Barbadians. Shooting for the visitors were Laurel Brown (13/18), Nadia Blackman (9/11) Lydia Bishop (5/6) and Nakita Piggott (3/4). On Friday night, Barker topped the shooting for the eighth ranked team in the world with 17 goals from 19 attempts while Wilson produced 15 from 20. T&T trailing 14-12 and Wilson was replaced by Cooper, who missed only one attempt in her tally of 10. Play remained the same in the second period as the Bajans held on to the two-goal (24-22) lead at the half, thanks to Bishop and Piggott, who opened the shooting for the visitors.
Bishop was the most impressive shooter overall, netting 31 from 36 for the winner. Piggott despite not having much tries at goal was quite accurate, hitting six off seven. Brown also shot for the visiting side and she kept up the shooting for the 10th-ranked Barbadian team with similar scores as Piggott (6/7). Both teams are using the series as a warmup for the upcoming World Championship set for July 3-10 in Singapore. The local girls are expecting a huge turnout to cheer them on against Barbados in the decider today from 4 pm.
Results
Match 2
T&T 42 (Anastasia Wilson 22/28, Joelisa Cooper 16/22, Janelle Barker 15/17, Jellene Richardson 1/2) vs Barbados 43 (Lydia Bishop 5/6, Nakita Piggott 3/4, Laurel Brown 13/18, Nadia Blackman 9/11).
Match 1
T&T 42 (Anastasia Wilson 15/20, Joelisa Cooper 10/11, Janelle Barker 17/19) vs Barbados 43 (Lydia Bishop 31/36, Nakita Piggott 6/7, Laurel Brown 6/7).