Spartoms netball club dominated proceedings at the inaugural Mayaro Netfest Netball Weekend tournament at the Mayaro Sport Facility over the weekend (December 9-10).
On Saturday (December 9), the club topped the Under-16 division and also sealed the U-20 title led by double "Most Valuable Player" (MVP) awards recipient, national U-16 player Shian Lewis.
Spartoms whipped Rio Claro East Secondary 22-6 in the final, to take the $1500 first-place prize voucher. The Rio Claro East players collected $1,000 for their runner-up finish.
Spartoms, with Jernicia Goodrich as captain, were the favourites to take the title and were up 10-4 at halftime. Goodrich and Lewis led their team's attack in the second half to win by 16 goals.
Manzanilla Academy ended in third after defeating Rio Claro West Secondary 11-7 in the third-place play-off match.
The Port-of-Spain-based Spartoms outfit topped Group A earlier in the day with impressive wins over Manzanilla Academy (20-1) and Shockers (21-3).
Rio Claro East finished ahead in Group B beating Cardinals (12-10), and neighbour Rio Claro West Secondary (12-6).
Manzanilla Academy qualified for the semifinals after finishing second with an 11-1 triumph over Shockers. Rio Claro West beat Cardinals 13-10 to advance to the next round.
In the semifinals, Spartoms dismissed Rio Claro West 25-1 while Rio Claro East got past Manzanilla Academy, 10-8.
Lewis was named the MVP and "Best Centre" while her club-mate Nekisha Gomez collected the "Best Shooter" prize.
Aziza Charles (Rio Claro East) was voted the "Best Defender" and the "Most Promising Player" accolade was presented to Sheniah Punter (Manzanilla Academy).
On day one of the tournament, Spartoms netballers won the U-16 title after topping the three-team field with wins over Manzanilla Academy One and Two. Spartoms, dressed in red and coached by former national player and national U-23 coach Sojourner "Suzie" Hyles-Lewis, first defeated Manzanilla Academy Two 9-2 in the opening match of the day and then whipped Manzanilla Academy One, 13-5.
Spartoms went home with the $1,500 first prize voucher. Manzanilla Academy Two was second after beating Manzanilla Academy One, 13-4. Both teams received $1,000 and $500, respectively, in vouchers.
Spartoms captain Lewis led her team to victories. The national U-16 defender was outstanding with her all-round performance, via her speed and athleticism on the court. Lewis was later named the MVP. The Success-Laventille Secondary second form student is the daughter of coach Hyles-Lewis. Her cub-mate and cousin Neisha Hyles was voted the "Best Defender".
Captain of Manzanilla Academy Two Kaliyah Persue was adjudged the "Most Promising Player" with her team-mates Christie Paponette and Alyssa Felix copping the "Best Shooter" and "Best Centre" awards, respectively.
Lewis said was ecstatic about the team's success, saying: "I am proud and excited. We came here to improve our skills. Some of the players are still learning (the game) and need to go back and improve."
The Mayaro Netfest was organised by the Nariva-Mayaro Netball Development Committee (NMNDC) in collaboration with the All Mayaro Sports Foundation (AMSF) and sponsored by Republic Bank-Mayaro Branch, Blue Waters, and Zor Services.
The goal of the NMNDC as well as AMSF is to provide netballers from the Nariva-Mayaro area with an opportunity to play, learn and grow in the sport. Being able to play against clubs with varying styles and mindsets can be quite rewarding.
This event sets the stage for a calendar of events and programmes for netball in the area. The NMNDC seeks to take netball to the next level in its communities with the goal of providing skilled, disciplined and competitive netballers for the national talent pool.
"The focus is also to encourage female sports while ensuring that male participation also increases and netball is not seen as a “girl sport.”
"The task is big but the committee is bigger!" said the NMNDC via a release.
Netball icons, who have had a positive impact on netball in the Mayaro community, were honoured during the tournament including Dr Bridget Adams, current president of Americas Netball, the regional body for netball, Allison Philbert-Acosta, Nicola Cabrera, Monique La Foucade, Verna Alison and Karina Alexis.
The NMNDC consists of a number of professionals who are involved in netball. The committee members are Akeela Rodriguez, Kielle Connelly, La Foucade, Verna Allsop, Aminah Cozier and Keishel Lamkin.
Results
Saturday
U-16 Division
Spartoms NC 9 vs Manzanilla Academy Two 1
Manzanilla Academy Two 13 vs Manzanilla Academy One 4
Spartoms 13 vs Manzanilla Academy I 5
Awards
League: 1 Spartoms, 2nd Manzanilla Academy Two, 3 Manzanilla Academy One
Most Valuable Player: Shian Lewis (Spartoms)
Most Promising Player: Kaliyah Persue (Manzanilla Academy 2)
Best Defender: Neisha Hyles (Spartoms)
Best Shooter: Christie Paponette (Manzanilla Academy)
Best Centre: Alyssa Felix (Manzanilla Academy)
Sunday
U-20 Division
Group A
Spartoms NC 20 vs Manzanilla Academy 1
Spartoms 21 vs Shockers 3
Manzanilla Academy 11 vs Shockers 1
Group B
Rio Claro West 12 vs Cardinals 10
Rio Claro East 12 vs Rio Claro West 6
Rio Claro East 12 vs Cardinals 5
Semifinals
Spartoms 25 vs Rio Claro West 1
Rio Claro East 10 vs Manzanilla Academy 8
Third place play-off
Manzanilla Academy 11 vs Rio Claro West 7
Final
Spartoms 22 vs Rio Claro East 6
Awards
League: 1 Spartoms, 2 Rio Claro East, 3 Manzanilla Academy
Most Valuable Player: Shian Lewis (Spartoms)
Most Promising Player: Sheniah Punter (Manzanilla Academy)
Best Defencer: Aziza Charles (Rio East Secondary)
Best Shooter: Nekisha Gomez (Spartoms)
Best Centre: Shian Lewis (Spartoms )
