Sunshine Girls still on course to defend CAC title

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls remained firmly on course to successfully defend their Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games netball title after registering a third consecutive victory, defeating Barbados 46-37 yesterday.

The Jamaican team, made up primarily of under-21 players, was pushed hard by a determined Barbadian outfit in a closely contested encounter before pulling away with a dominant third-quarter display.

The match was evenly balanced throughout the first half, with both teams matching each other goal for goal as the scores were locked at 22-22 at the interval.

However, Jamaica tightened its defence after the break and took control of the contest in the third quarter, outscoring Barbados 14-5 to open up a commanding 36-27 lead heading into the final period.

Although both teams scored 10 goals apiece in the fourth quarter, the Sunshine Girls comfortably maintained their nine-goal advantage to secure another impressive victory.

29 goals from 41 attempts

Simone Gordon led the Jamaican attack with 29 goals from 41 attempts, while Jada Ricketts provided solid support with 13 goals from 22 attempts.

The Sunshine Girls will now turn their attention to today’s encounter against St Lucia as they continue their quest for another CAC Games crown.

Meanwhile, Jamaica enjoyed mixed fortunes on the track.

Veteran sprinter Tyquendo Tracey and Kadrian Goldson both advanced to the final of the men’s 200 metres, while Niesha Burgher produced an impressive performance to win her women’s 200m semi-final in 22.76 seconds and secure her place in the final.

Jamaica’s other representative in the women’s event, Krystal Sloley, failed to finish her semi-final.

In the men’s 110m hurdles final, Sharvis Simmonds finished fifth, while Javier Brown and Kimar Farquharson placed fifth and seventh, respectively, in the men’s 400m final after clocking 45.38 and 45.99 seconds.