The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Jamaica's Sunshine Girls now 3-0 at AFNA champs

Nadine Bryan ... a key player for Jamaica. - file

kingstown, st vincent (cmc)

Defending champions Jamaica continued their unbridled run toward another regional netball title with a third consecutive victory in the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) tournament on Tuesday night.

The champs constructed a sound 17-goal triumph over Barbados, winning 52-35 in one of three matches on day three of the competition at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

The Jamaicans led at the interval 18-7, 30-17, and 42-31, while handing Barbados their second loss in three games.

Trinidad and Tobago whipped hosts St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 50-33 to stay alongside Jamaica in the standings with a 3-0 record, and St Lucia toppled Canada 47-41 in the evening's third game.

The Sunshine Girls, who had recorded victories over St Lucia and Canada in their first two matches, never looked troubled as they sped out of the blocks and rushed to a 5-0 lead in the first few minutes.

Dominant display

The Barbadians, who were still savouring their thrashing of SVG on Monday, were quickly brought down to earth as their opponents seized the initiative in a dominant early game display.

The powerful centre, Nichala Gibson, imperiously worked the mid-court to keep the Bajans in check with skill and muscle, in combination with goal attack Simone Forbes and Nadine Bryan.

'Best Setter Award'

Forbes, who missed the Jamaicans' opening encounter owing to other national duties at the Caribbean Volleyball Championship (CVC) in Barbados where she won the 'Best Setter Award', was a tower of strength in intercepting, passing and shooting.

Good support from Crystal Gordon in the first three quarters proved significant in what turned out to be a lopsided win.

After the opening period when world number four Jamaica surged into an 11-goal lead, the Barbadians worked hard and were fairly competitive in the remaining quarters while being unable to narrow the margin.

Gordon hit 26 goals from 30 tries, while Forbes (21/26) also scored heavily and Christina Solmon (5/7) got Jamaica's other goals.

For Barbados, shooter Laurel Browne (8/10), Lydia Bishop (14/14) and Nikita Piggott (13/17) did the scoring.