National goal-shooter Afeisha Noel and ex-national standout Simone Morgan came up trumps as defending champion Fire Services held off a stubborn test from tournament debutants Tobago House of Assembly (THA), 31-28 in the Premier Division of the Courts All Sectors Netball League at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Tacarigua on Saturday.
Noel ended with 20 goals from 27 attempts and Morgan, 11 of 23 for Fire which broke open a 7-7 first quarter deadlock to lead 18-14 at the half and 30-24 at the end of the third period for their first win after losing the opening match of its title defence 31-47 to Police.
For THA, which showed great improvement from its 13-43 defeat at the hands of UTT, Abeni Taylor converted on 18 of 29 and Natasha Radgman got seven from 14, while Nakita Spencer and Rianna Alexander chipped in with two and one goal, respectively.
UTT made it two wins from as many matches with a close 37-35 win over Police led by national basketball and former Under-20 national netball starlet, Samantha Wallace's 23 goals from 30 attempts and national player Kalifa Mc Collin, with 15 from 16.
Joelisa Cooper, the top national goal-shooter, had 28 from 37 for Police and Jenice Mc Intosh, another seven from 12.
In the Championship Division, Police X spanked Police Y, 47-26 and Jabloteh edged Bermudez 29-27 while in the lone Alternative Division clash, UTT trampled Police 63-22.
Results & schedule
Saturday's results:
Alternative Division:
UTT 63 (Jameel Mc Carthy 53/64, Shaquanda Green 8/9, Shanon Duncan1/1, Keishel Beckles 1/2) vs Police 22 (Tahirah Hollingsworth 12/18, Cheryse Aguillera 10/14)
Quarter scores: 1st 12-6 UTT; 2nd 24-11 UTT; 3rd 42-18 UTT
Championship Division:
Police X 47 (Patrice Goring 37/46, Beverly Hernandez 7/8, Claudia Joseph 3/7) vs Police Y 26 (Jeselle Navarro 16/25, Giselle Norton 10/24)
Quarter scores: 1st. 13-2; 2nd. Police X; 22-10 Police X; 3rd. 32-19 Police X
Jabloteh 29 (Samantha James 15/24, Giselle Hobson 14/29) vs Bermudez 27 (Jocelyn Marcelle 18/30, Indra Anderson 5/7, Dalia Quamina 2/5, Kurtisha Hoyce 2/5)
Quarter scores: 1st. 7-6 Jabloteh; 2nd. 15-11 Jabloteh; 3rd. 21-20 Jabloteh
Premier Division:
Fire Service 31 (Afeisha Noel 20/27, Simone Morgan 11/23) vs THA 28 (Abeni Taylor 18/29, Natasha Radgman 7/14, Nakita Spencer 2/3, Rianna Alexander 1/5)
Quarter scores: 1st. 7-7; 2nd. 18-14 UTT; 3rd. 30-24 UTT
UTT 37 (Samantha Wallace 22/30, Kalifa Mc Collin 15/16) vs Police 35 (Joelisa Cooper 28/37, Jenice Mc Intosh 7/12)
Quarter scores: 1st. 9-8 UTT; 2nd. 18-14 UTT; 3rd. 30-24 UTT.
Upcoming matches:
Today:
Aletrnative: USC vs Fideas, 5.30 pm
Championship: Bermudez vs Fire Service, 6.45 pm
Thursday:
Alternative: Police vs Prisons, 5.30 pm; UTT vs TSTT, 6.45 pm
Saturday:
Alternative: Fideas vs UTT, 2.15pm
Championship: Police Y vs Bermudez, 3.30pm
Premier: THA vs Police, 4.45; Fire Service vs UTT, 6pm
Monday:
Retro: Les Enfants vs TSTT, 5.30 pm; Harlem vs Bermudez, 6.20pm
Championship: Police X vs Fire Service, 7.15 pm?