Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

TARRANT HIGH and Queen's are this year's ISSA/Digicel Urban Area schoolgirls' senior and junior netball champions following victories over Dunoon Technical and St. Andrew at the Leila Robinson Courts on Friday.

In the junior final, Queen's, led by Rene McCarthy's 11 goals from 16 attempts, defeated St. Andrew 18-13.

Christina Harwood was the top shooter for St. Andrew with 12 goals from 14 tries.

Always confident

Marvette Anderson, coach of Queen's, was delighted with her team victory.

"We played about 90 per cent perfect because we got a bit complacent at times. But we didn't get flustered and that was what got us through to this victory," said Anderson.

"We were always confident that we could win this game because as long as we stuck to our game plan, we were always going to come out victorious."

In the senior final, Tarrant edged defending champions Dunoon 36-35. The winners outplayed their opponents in the first half and held a 20-14 lead at halftime.

Tarrant, led by national goal shooter Christina Solmon who was a part of Jamaica's bronze medal team at last month's World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, maintained their six-point advantage throughout the third period to end with a 29-23 lead.

Rallied strongly

However, Dunoon rallied strongly in the fourth quarter through their national Under-21 invitee, Crystal Gordon, who scored five straight points to cut the deficit to one with less than 15 seconds remaining, but the Delroy Johnson-coached Tarrant team inbounded the ball on the next possession and held on for the victory.

Solmon (20 goals) received solid support from Samantha White (16 goals). Gordon finished the game with 33 goals from 36 attempts.

Played their hearts out

Johnson was ecstatic with his team's performance.

"The game was close, but a victory is a victory," said Johnson. "We worked really hard for this because we have been putting this team together for the past four years and we finally reached the top."

She added, "Our dream was to reach the all-island play-off and we are there now. The girls really played their hearts out for us today."

C. Lloyd Walker, coach of Dunoon, said: "I think we played well because to get to this stage is a plus for us. "When I started with this team it was inexperienced and weak, but I think that they have matured in many ways, so to come out here is a big plus for them."