Jamaica, T&T clash for U-16 netball crown

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC)

Unbeaten Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are exuding positive vibes nearing the climax of the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) Under-16 tournament.

Both teams chalked up 4-0 records with impressive wins Tuesday evening and while Jamaica's giant shooter Marvadean Anderson is delivering prolific scoring for the six-time champions and tournament favourites, Trinidad and Tobago's coaching staff is satisfied with their progress so far.

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago clash in a sixth-round match this evening that is set to decide the championship.

Listed at an incredible 6-feet-9-inches, Anderson sank 29 goals Tuesday night for the Jamaicans to flatten St Lucia 46-12, while boosting their scoring record to 182 goals with 40 against.

Team coach Joan Cargill is convinced Anderson could be a huge asset to Jamaica in the future.

"Her attitude is good and she's quite positive. She works hard and we are expecting greater things from her in the future," she said.

Trinidad and Tobago, without a regional U-16 title to date, knocked off ex-champions Barbados 32-22 in their latest game to stay joint top of the table with Jamaica, and their coach, Naomi Bobb, is very pleased with her team's progress.

"Wonderful, wonderful. Everything is going the way we want it," she said after their win over the Barbadians.

Bobb said the players "have come up to the standard" and are aiming to continue the winning trend.

T&T have been solid all week, crushing former champions St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Dominica, St Lucia and Barbados while racking up 152 goals and conceding 67.

"What they put out is what they got. We expect more in the future," Bobb said of her winning T&T outfit.

The Jamaicans have a near flawless record in this tournament.

With the exception of 2005 when Barbados edged them for the title in their only ever loss in the tournament's history, the Jamaicans have won every championship they attended since its inception in 1998. There were no tournaments in 2003 and 2007.

The Jamaicans won in 1998, skipped the 1999 tournament in Barbados where SVG won, then won the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006 titles.

About the showdown with T&T today, Jamaica's coach spoke cautiously and suggested that it will be up to the players to perform at their best.

"Every team we will take them as they come. We are not underestimating any team's ability. The team that plays the better netball on the day should get the result they are looking for," Cargill said.