By Charmaine Austin, Staff ReporterDUNOON HAVE won the UGI-sponsored ISSA Urban high school girls netball title 15 times but are still not comfortable with the idea of any other team holding the trophy.
The defending Corporate Area champions and 13-time all-island title holders are among the teams contesting one of two semi-final games in that competition this afternoon at the Leila Robinson Courts and coach C. Lloyd Walker is hoping that they will be in the final when it's all over.
Dunoon face favourites St Hugh's, who like themselves are unbeaten up to this point, while Holy Childhood take on Wolmer's in the other game.
Both matches start at 2:15 p.m. but will be preceded by the junior league semi-finals at 1:30 p.m.
FEVER PITCH
Excitement is expected to reach fever pitch when the teams take to the court for their mid-afternoon assignments.
St Hugh's are touted to beat Dunoon, who despite their champions status are underdogs going in.
Unafraid to call a spade a spade, Walker says he knows it will be difficult to get by St Hugh's but his charges are geared at playing good netball and counting on victory to be on their side.
"Our team is not as strong as last year so our mission really is to play good netball. Wherever St Hugh's makes a mistake we'll try and capitalise on it. We have a number of inexperienced players so we have to be realistic and realise that we'll only win if we minimise our mistakes and outscore our opponents.
CAN'T BE TOO COMFORTABLE
"As defending champions we can't be too comfortable with another team taking the title from us and we are going to do our best to defend it. St Hugh's has a very strong team so we know the game is going to be very difficult," he said.
St Hugh's too, despite the hype, are wary of Dunoon.
Said coach Philip St Marie: "It will be a tough match. Their shooters and defenders may give us some trouble but we're prepared for the challenge."
The other senior semi-final game should be just as keen.
Unbeaten Holy Childhood, who are hunting their first final, will aim to get by Wolmer's unscathed.
Wolmer's will be going in vengeful after losing to Dunoon in the preliminary round but Holy Childhood boast a number of players from last year's junior league champion team.
Wolmer's also boast a team in the junior league semi-finals where they will try their luck against Queen's.
In the other game, Ardenne will battle it out with Ascot, who are getting to this stage of the competition for the first time.
For Ardenne, getting to this stage is "a dream come true".
Said coach Bethune Morgan: "Reaching the semi-finals is a dream come true for us. We have a tough opponent in Ascot but as long as we stay focused we can pull it off."
