Barbados might not have been totally satisfied with their shooting percentages last night, but they were still strong enough to deliver drubbing number two to St Lucia as their three-match netball series continued at the Netball Stadium.
Playing once more before a very supportive home crowd, Barbados won 61-35 with the promising Sheniqua Thomas and Shonica Wharton being St Lucia’s main tormentors this time around. In the first game it had been Nikita Piggott and Laurel Browne who led the offence. This time the two younger members of the squad shared most of the limelight.
Wharton led all-scorers with 25 goals but missed 13 of her attempts. As the team prepare for their Commonwealth assignment, that percentage must be improved. Thomas netted 17 goals from 25 attempts. Piggott had nine goals from 13 attempts, Rhea Bryant scored five of her seven attempts, Faye Sealy had five goals from nine attempts. Nikita Cyrus’ range was somewhat off, failing to score in her five attempts at goal.
St Lucia were somewhat indifferent under the ring with Janva Hippolyte in particular not making best use of her scoring opportunities, missing 16 of the 24 attempts she made at goal. The scoring slack was picked up significantly by Indira Laurencia who scored 15 goals from her 20 attempts. Enalie John had four goals from eight attempts, Germain Fenelon had three goals from five attempts and Shem Maxwell, five from
seven attempts.
Barbados would have been pleased at the intensity of the defensive pressure placed on St Lucia over the six periods of the game. While orchestrating 97 attempts at goal, they limited the visitors to 64 attempts, which was the result of a number of timely interceptions of passes coming into the circle and hustling the St Lucians into wayward passes.
Barbados led throughout the encounter, increasing their advantage after every quarter. The hosts led 12-8 after the first, then 26-13, 32-17, 42-21 and 52-28.