Making 'Gayns' in netball

The Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) schoolgirl netball season will come to a grand climax at the Leila Robinson Court next Tuesday and there will be an unfamiliar team trying to take the big prize as Gaynstead High vies for the title.

Gaynstead, which only several years ago made their entry into ISSA sports, have shown tremendous improvement in netball and had their best performance last year when they finished third in the Under-16 competition.

The school's sports coordinator, Derrick Brown has been instrumental in the team's improved showing and is looking forward to the final.

Earlier in the season Gaynstead defeated the urban and all-island champion, The Queen's School in the competition and they will face their opponent once again.

"It was sheer excitement among the school population at Gaynstead as we are a small school and we do not get the talent like the bigger schools," said Brown.

"We are expecting a big turn out despite most of the students having examinations now, and they leave for home early, but they are all excited and they will be coming to give their support."

The team does not lack experience as most of the players were members of the Global A team which defeated Exed Saints in the Supreme Ventures Limited Minor League competition a few months ago.

International netball umpire, Dalton Hinds is head coach at the Central Avenue institution, and following his team's semi-final success last week over Camperdown is approaching the game cautiously.

"Both teams got a centre pass, and it is about how you utilised those centre passes. Queen's are the defending champions. We are happy to be in the final. We hope the girls can reproduce their winning form shown against them earlier this season," he said.