Rural, urban finals to light up Leila Robinson

The Leila Robinson Netball Courts will be in the spotlight today as the top high school teams clash in the finals of the ISSA Schoolgirl Netball Competition. After weeks of intense action, champions in both the urban and rural competitions, at junior and senior levels, will be crowned.

The finals are set to get off to a flying start at 1 p.m. with the rural junior decider, where defending champions Holmwood Technical High School will square off against Denbigh High. At 2 p.m., attention will shift to the urban junior finals as defending champions Wolmer’s Girls’ take on Norman Manley High.

At 3 p.m., Holmwood and Denbigh will renew their rivalry in the rural senior finals, with Holmwood seeking yet another title. The day will culminate at 4 p.m. when a new urban senior champion will be crowned as Gaynstead High battles José Martí in a repeat of the 2022 final.

Coaches across the board are oozing with confidence ahead of today’s decisive encounters.

After a dominant season in which they steam-rolled most of their opponents, two-time champions Gaynstead (2018 and 2022) will start favourites as they chase a third urban senior title. Their opponents, José Martí, will be hunting their first championship crown.

“We have played well all season and we are ready to go to battle. After a little drought, the girls are hungry for success. Key players for us today are captain Kimiesha Bernard, Mackeyda Thomas and Danielle Josephs,” said Gaynstead head coach Dalton Hinds.

José Martí head coach Phillip Pinnock believes his team has peaked at the right time.

“We are excited to be contesting for the gold medal. We have gotten better as the season has progressed. We are a team-driven unit, led defensively by our captain and vice-captain, Shenequa Robinson and Tamara Sibourne. We also have national under-16 player Jada Campbell and shooter Kalee Martin as key players. The camp is ready and we are expecting a positive result,” Pinnock said.

Both Holmwood and Denbigh will be hoping for a clean sweep, as they meet in both the junior and senior rural finals.

Holmwood will be seeking back-to-back senior titles and a record-extending 16th crown, while also chasing consecutive junior titles and a sixth overall. Success on both fronts would further cement their status as the most dominant high school netball programme in the country. Head coach Carline Graham-Powell is confident of sweeping the titles.

“We have been working really hard and doing the same things we have done over the years that have made us successful. This time won’t be any different. We have done the hard work and we are ready. Respect to our opponents, but I have no shadow of a doubt that we will win both titles,” said Graham-Powell.

“We have lost several members from last year’s successful senior team, so it is a young squad. We have done a lot of mental work with the players, and they know what those before them achieved. They are hungry for success.”

Denbigh High coach, veteran Winston Nevers, is expecting two epic contests. “I expect two very good matches. The Holmwood coach is a big-match coach and knows how to motivate her players for big occasions. I know it will be tough, but Denbigh is ready to deliver and break a title drought. The players are hungry and eager to win for the school, the principal and the community,” said Nevers.

In the urban junior finals, Wolmer’s Girls’ head coach Tracy-Ann Griffiths says her team is ready to defend the title they won last year.

“This is the finals, so we are definitely going for the win as we want to defend our title. For us, it is all about the total team game,” Griffiths said.

Today’s programme will also include third-place play-offs in both competitions.

Today’s Games

Junior third-place play-offs

Urban Juniors: St Hugh’s vs Jonathan Grant – 11 a.m.

Rural Juniors: May Day vs Bishop Gibson High – 11 a.m.

Senior third-place play-offs

Urban: Norman Manley vs Wolmer’s - Noon

Rural: Manchester High vs Mile Gully – Noon

Junior finals

Rural: Holmwood vs Denbigh – 1 p.m.

Urban: Wolmer’s Girls’ vs Norman Manley – 2 p.m.

Senior finals

Rural: Holmwood vs Denbigh – 3 p.m.

Urban: Gaynstead High vs José Martí – 4 p.m.