Goalkeeper and captain Jerusha Des Vignes and goal-defence Kelis Findley was ruthless on defence for Team T&T (TTO) in their third match of the Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament. They held opponent Dominica to a solitary goal in the second half to emerge with a massive 44-9 win on Tuesday night.
Their effort, combined with those of goal-shooter Curleen Lara and goal-attack Zewditu Alexander, invited a standing ovation and chants of “T-T-O” from the appreciative supporters at the University of the West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) in St Augustine.
Coach Sojourner “Suzie” Hyles-Lewis was impressed by her team’s showing in the lopsided win.
“Today’s (Tuesday) performance against Dominica was very composed and professional,” said Hyles-Lewis. “The team showed good control of the game, stuck to the structure, and made smart decisions under pressure. It wasn’t just about flair – it was about discipline, patience, and executing the game plan, which is exactly what you want at this stage of the competition.”
Dominica had the first pass, and goal attack Krissia Pierre scored the opening goal. Lara responded to tie the score for T&T, then scored four unanswered goals to put her team ahead 5-1. The teams battled through the period, but by the end of the first quarter, T&T held an 11-4 advantage.
In the second period, the T&T Under-16s’ intensity dropped slightly. They managed to add eight goals to their tally while Dominica matched its first-quarter output of four goals, leaving T&T ahead 19-8 at the half.
On the resumption, T&T stifled the opposition. Ariannah Mark, Brittney Roberts, and Khemyah Anderson, who shared wing-defence duties, joined Des Vignes and Findley to form an impenetrable wall, allowing Dominica zero goals in the third quarter. T&T led 30-8 heading into the final session.
This dominating display was particularly recognised by Hyles-Lewis, a former national defender.
“From a defensive perspective, that second-half effort stands out. To limit Dominica to just one goal shows excellent communication, positioning, and trust across the defensive unit,” Hyles-Lewis noted. “As a former defender, you appreciate that kind of discipline – staying compact, reading the play early, and not switching off. That’s the kind of foundation that wins tournaments.”
The fourth quarter was just as restrictive. T&T utilised a full-court press to win balls and convert them into goals. Dominica’s lone goal in the final period came from Jaycoliah Benjamin, while T&T added 14 goals to seal the 35-goal victory. The win moved T&T back into the top spot of the standings with six points from three matches.
Lara ended with an impressive 33 goals from 36 attempts, and Alexander netted 11 off 16 for the winner.
“Winning three straight says a lot about the group. It shows consistency, strong mentality, and a real understanding of their roles. They’re not just winning – they’re building momentum, confidence, and belief with each game, which is crucial heading into the tougher stages,” said Hyles-Lewis.
T&T was scheduled to face one of its toughest opponents in the tournament, St Lucia, last night. The St Lucians had previously moved to the top of the table on Monday while T&T was on a bye. However, on Tuesday evening, St Lucia was edged 33-32 by Grenada. In the day’s other match, Barbados remained unbeaten with a 42-17 win over the Cayman Islands.
Tuesday’s results
T&T 44 (Curleen Lara 33/36, Zewditu Alexander 11/16) vs Dominica 9 (Chloie Gregoire 1/2, Krissia Pierre 6/8, Adhari Samuel 1/3, Jaycoliah Benjamin 1/1). Quarters: 1st 11-4, 2nd 19-8, 3rd 30-8 (All in favour of T&T).
Barbados 42 (Brianna Wallace 2/5, Cherish Gibson 22/28, Tyra Griffith 18/39) vs Cayman Islands 17 (Seriah Frederick 15/22, Lei’a Grizzel 2/3). Quarters: 1st 8-4, 2nd 21-6, 3rd 33-11 (All in favour of Barbados).
Grenada 33 (Aysha-Li Phillip-Shepherd 5/7, Reshonna Francis 27/34, Kamia Lewis 1/3) vs St Lucia 32 (Neriah Charley 24/28, Naija Ferdinand 8/11). Quarters: 1st 10-5 (Grenada), 2nd 17-14 (Grenada), 3rd 23-23.
Standings
Pos*Team*P*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts
1*T&T*3*3*0*0*117*29*+88*6
2*Barbados*3*3*0*0*85*44*+41*6
3*St*Lucia*4*3*0*1*129*77*+52*6
4*Grenada*4*2*0*2*92*92*0*4
5*Cayman*4*1*0*3*58*139*-81*2
6*Dominica*3*0*0*3*41*90*-49*0
7*Antigua/Barbuda*3*0*0*3*38*89*-51*0
Matches
Today
Shooting competition, 2 pm
Barbados vs St Lucia, 4 pm
Dominica vs Grenada, 5.30 pm
Antigua & Barbuda vs T&T, 7 pm
Tomorrow
Antigua & Barbuda vs Dominica, 3 pm
Cayman Islands vs Grenada, 4.30 pm
Barbados vs T&T, 6 pm
Closing ceremony, 7 pm
