GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago finished unbeaten while Barbados convincingly won their last game of the American Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) qualifiers to also book a spot in next year’s World Netball Championships scheduled for Singapore. While T&T completed an easy 58-45 win over hosts St Lucia in the evening’s final game, Barbados rebounded to win their final match against Canada after losing to T&T on Monday.
Barbados, the United States and St Lucia all won three and lost two of their matches but the Barbadians finished second by virtue of their 1.24 goal average, ahead of the US (1.04) and St Lucia (0.97).
The final places were occupied by St Vincent and the Grenadines and Canada.
Playing in their final match against Canada, Barbados carved out a 60-31, having led 15-10, 29-18 and 45-27 at the quarters.
Goal shoot Lydia Bishop again led the way for Barbados scoring 34 of 39 attempts and goal shoot Nikita Piggott scored 26 of her 28 attempts.
For Canada, goal attack Sabrina Vesteeg scored 14 of 23 attempts while goal shoot Amanda Bongers buried 17 of her 27 attempts.
T&T, meanwhile, secured their fifth straight win after two close opening quarters when they led 14-11 and 26-23.
With St Lucia appearing to have lost their stride, the Trinidadians stretched their lead at the third quarter to 42-30 before going on to win 58-45.
Goal shoot Anastascia Wilson was once again the most accurate for the Trinidadians with 49 goals from 52 attempts.
St Lucia goal shoot Deidra Mathurin, who sat out the fourth quarter, scored 17 from 19 attempts and goal attack Shem Maxwell scored 13 from 15 attempts. Second goal shoot Melissa Alfred finished with 15 of 17.
The US were also in winners’ row, defeating SVG by a handsome margin of 63-39, with the Americans leading 19-17, 31-25, 46-34 at the first three quarters. Goal shoot Georgina Hibbert had a game-high 53 of 57 attempts and goal attack Petra Williams scored 10 of 12 attempts.
Goal shoot Gailene Gordon scored 15 of 17 attempts to power SVG with goal attack Tamara Samuel netting nine of 10 attempts and second goal shoot Mary Ann Fredericks scoring nine of 12 attempts.