THE UNDERPREPARED Guyana national senior women netball team received a baptism from defending champion Trinidad and Tobago in their opening round match of the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) Championships being staged at the Jean Pierre Complex, Port of Spain. After a much delayed start of the 2012 Championships, the Guyanese players, making their debut at this competition, knew that the host would be fully prepared and ready to make a statement to the rest of the teams especially against a team that has never made any serious impression at the regional level.
It was indeed unfortunate for the Guyanese players to face the might of the Trinidadians who showed absolutely no mercy, sympathy or charitable intentions as they romped to an impressive 104-10 victory before a partisan hometown supporters.
In the other matches played on Saturday, USA held off Grenada 41-37; Barbados whipped Bermuda 102-15 and Jamaica whipped St Lucia 72-31.
Coupled with relentless aggression, boundless energy and strategic manoeuvres, the skilful Trinidadians put on a high class netball exhibition against a team that was willing to fight but lacked the experience, skills, abilities and even height disadvantage to really stifle the fast-flowing style of the “Calypso Girls”.
It was a case of true baptism at a high level competition but also a great learning experience for the valiant Guyanese players who made enormous sacrifices and commitment for a game they so love but yet not receiving any support or recognition from those who should really care.
The confident Trinidad and Tobago took total command of the proceedings and restricted Guyana to a solitary point in the first quarter that ended 25-1 with their lanky goal shooter Anastasia Wilson (16 out of 21 shots) and goal attack Joelisa Cooper (7 out of 8) scoring with unerring accuracy.
However, with the introduction of Angeline McCarthy as goal shooter in the second quarter, Guyana improved their tally by three points as she converted all three scoring opportunities, as T&T finished the second quarter at 48-4 and the third at 77-7.
As the minutes ticked away in the fourth quarter; the energetic Trinidadians, urged on by the loyal supporters; topped the hundred-mark and completed the triumphant start with an overwhelming 104-10 victory.
Goal shooter Wilson, who played throughout;  topped the scoring chart with an impressive 88 points from 99 attempts, while goal attacks Joelisa Cooper finished with 11 out of 12 attempts and Janelle Barker five out of eight attempts.
For Barbados’ 102-13 victory, goal shooter Laurel Brown converted 54 out of 59 attempts while goal attacks Shonika Wharton scored 14 out of 17 and Nikita Piggott 34 out of 44.
Goal shooters Daniele Rannor and Marisa Wainwright scored six and five points from seven attempts each while goal attacks Kimale Evans made two out of two and Ebonie Burgess missed both her attempts.
For the United States of America, goal shooters Swasha Sawh (19 out 26 attempts) and Justine Telson (nine out of nine) led the way for a hard fought 41-37 victory over the plucky Grenadians. They were backed up by goal attacks Camille Henry who registered nine out of 14 attempts while Roenish Davis Francis made four out of nine.
Perennial champion Jamaica returned to the AFNA championships after having skipped the 2012 edition in St Lucia with an emphatic 72-31 victory over St Lucia.
Beanpole goal shooter, who played all four quarters in the same position;  towered over her opponents and converted 63 out of 67 attempts and received solid support from goal attacks Anna Kay Griffith and Vanessa Walker who scored five out of eight and four out of seven attempts respectively.
Jamaica took a commanding 23-5 first quarter lead but the St Lucians fought back in the second quarter to reduce the scoreline to 39-16. But the number four ranked team in the world resumed the natural order of dominance as they regained momentum and pushed to 60-21 while there was a ding dong tussle in the final quarter which was almost evenly matched (12 points to 10) as the game ended 72-31.
Goal shooters Merlissa Alfred (13 points out of 15 attempts)and Indira Laurenain (3 out of 3) plus goal attack Shem Maxwell (with 15 out of 21) scored for St Lucia who finished fourth at the 2010 championships.