Francis likes the tweaks as T&T stay perfect
Published:Wednesday | October 19, 2022 | 12:13 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
THE CHARGE to Jamaica’s young netballers from head coach Connie Francis was improvement in intensity in the final quarter of games, an area she felt was lacking.
Last night Francis’ youthful Sunshine Girls displayed that, dispatching the Cayman Islands 81-27 in their third game of the Netball World Cup regional qualifying tournament at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
While Jamaica won their first two games convincingly, Francis was not satisfied with the team’s performance in the last quarter of games, a concerning tendency she said had to be reversed, especially with tougher opposition awaiting at next year’s Netball World Cup.
“As a team, players had to be held accountable for poor performances. I thought that the first two games, we let ourselves down in the last quarter. So we gave them specific responsibilities when it comes to their game to ensure that they handle that area better. I thought that for the most part they did,” Francis said
The final quarter issue has not just plagued the Sunshine Girls in these first two games of the Americas Netball World Cup qualifiers, but has been a long-standing concern, according to Francis.
Francis wants her young players to learn and be accountable for their play throughout the tournament and beyond.
“It’s about getting these young players to take responsibility to make sure that they play well for a longer period of time and we manage ourselves and move the ball,” Francis said.
Cayman Island captain Aryana Grant, although knowing the tall order facing them, said that they were pleased with their ability to cause issues at times for the Jamaican shooters and to be able to match their physicality at times.
Comfort zone
“Us going and putting our body into the ball, our defenders making those shooters get out of their comfort zone for as long as possible, pushing them out of the circle (was encouraging),” Grant said.
Meanwhile, in the top-of-the-table clash, Trinidad and Tobago used a second-quarter surge to overpower Grenada 66-42, to take sole possession of first place in the standings with eight points.
Afeshia Noel led the way with 45 goals for Trinidad, while Lottyshaw Cato had 40 for Grenada who were losing their first game of the tournament.
Trinidad head coach Kemba Duncan said there wasn’t much of a change in their approach from Monday’s 49-42 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines, but that their execution had improved.
“I think it was about the players. They would have been a little more focused. They executed the game plan and maintained it,” Duncan said.
Today sees Jamaica, Trinidad and Grenada play double sessions.
The Sunshine Girls play Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada, while Trinidad play the Cayman Islands and the USA. Before their Jamaica match, Grenada will play Barbados in the morning.