ISSA rural schoolgirls netball teams hunt final berths

PLACES IN the finals of the ISSA rural schoolgirls junior and senior netball competition will be up for grabs today when the semi-finals are played at the GC Foster College.

In junior action at 10 a.m, defending champions Manchester High will take on Mile Gully, while at noon, last year’s beaten finalists, Holmwood Technical, will face Titchfield High.

Defending senior champions Holmwood will renew battle with last year’s beaten finalists Glenmuir High at 1 p.m. This match will be preceded by the Denbigh High versus Manchester High semi-final encounter at 11 a.m.

All eyes will be on the big clash between the Carline Graham-Powell coached Holmwood and the Ryan Reid-conditioned Glenmuir. Led by the duo of goal shooter Jada Ricketts and goal attack Reneica Jones, the Holmwood team has been impressive all season with big blowout wins over their rivals. Twice in the second round they scored more than 100 goals in a game and will be hoping for another big performance in what is expected to be their sternest test of the season.

They lost to Denbigh in the preliminary round of the competition, but Glenmuir have been an improved team since that defeat. They have looked much better in subsequent matches and could be waiting for this opportunity to show their worth. The Holmwood defence will have to be at their best to stop the dangerous trio of centre Tajera March, goal attack Trishauna Allen, and goal shooter Tori Mendez.

After seeing their junior team get beaten by Manchester High in their quarterfinal game, the Winston Nevers-coached Denbigh senior team will be hoping to make up for that defeat when they take on the same school at 11 a.m.

It could be a good day for both Manchester and Holmwood as they could advance to two finals. The Simone Smith-coached Manchester junior team, coming off a big 25-13 upset win over Denbigh in their quarterfinal encounter, will take on Mile Gully in the first junior semi-final game of the day at 10 a. m. Mile Gully stopped Iona High 33-19 in their last match.

Holmwood were brilliant in their quarterfinal win over Glenmuir last Thursday, with a 30-17 success, and should produce another outstanding performance when they go up against Titchfield High at 12 p.m. The Portland-based Titchfield got by May Day 28-26 in a close encounter to advance to this stage.