Barbados champs of regional Under-16 Netball

Barbados claimed their second title in the Jean Pierre Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) Under-16 Tournament, when they completed an unbeaten run in the 2012 edition, which concluded last Thursday evening at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex.{{more}}

Easily the most competent of the seven-team lot, the Barbadians disposed of the 2011 champions, St Lucia, in the final match of the tournament.

Barbados led all quarters 12-5, 23-9, and 29-17, and eventually won 35-26.

The top shooter, Shonica Wharton, came up big again with 24 goals from 30 attempts, while Thomas netted 11 of her 19 shots.

Jeanique Etienne scored 12 from 15 for St Lucia and Chervelle Huggins 14 from 15.

The Barbadians were turning the tables on the St Lucians. In the deciding match last year in St Kitts, Barbados suffered an agonising one goal defeat, as St Lucia won the match 31-30.

Barbados’ unblemished record this time around saw then coming away with a 32-16 triumph over Grenada, defeating Dominica 57-7, whipping St. Vincent and the Grenadines 36-24, Antigua and Barbuda 50-16 and seeing off Trinidad and Tobago 40-26.

Also, last Thursday evening, Dominica whipped Antigua and Barbuda 36-16 and Trinidad and Tobago disposed of Grenada 28-19.

It was Barbados’ second lien on the tournament, having first done so in 2005 in St Kitts, when Jamaica was among their victims.

Dethroned champions St Lucia had to settle for the second spot, and Trinidad and Tobago, for the fourth consecutive year finished third.

Host, St Vincent and the Grenadines, with one Under-16 title under its belt, achieved in Barbados in 1999, finished fourth, a position they also earned in 2011.

St Vincent and the Grenadines scored 194 goals and had 135 scored against them, to end with a 75.19% accuracy rate.

The host had victories against Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada, but lost out to the top three in Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Grenada won the Developmental Division, ahead of Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.

Barbados took the team shooting competition and the top Individual Shooter in Shonica Wharton.

The 2012 champions also had the Best Goal Average, were the Best Defending Team and were adjudged the Most Disciplined Team and the outfit which displayed the Best Team Spirit.

Barbados scored 328 goals and had 160 scored against them, finishing with a goal average of 2.17.

Defensively, the Barbadians had 150 attempts at goal against them.

Trinidad and Tobago was the Most Accurate Shooting team with 83.84%. Barbados took the Shooting Competition with a 64.11% accuracy.

Antigua and Barbuda was declared the Most Improved Team and Trinidad and Tobago, the Best Uniformed Team and the Best Team on Parade on the opening day. (RT)