Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Jamaica's wing attack Jodi-Ann Ffrench challenges for a ball with Trinidad and Tobago's goal defence Corisia Blugh (centre) and Ayana Hamlet during the first of two game team's practice test at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday. At right is Latoya Thomas. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA'S UNDER-21 netball team continued its preparation for the World Youth Netball Championships (WYNC), by completing a two-game shut-out of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday morning with a debilitating 82-20 defeat at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.
The world number two-ranked Jamaicans put in another very impressive showing after Saturday night's 63-28 win over the same opponents.
For the Jamaicans their trump card Romelda Aiken was again in irresistible form, accounting for 68 goals from her 76 attempts.
Latoya Thomas was the only other scorer in double figures as she bagged 11 of 16. Kadian Mendez scored three goals from the same position.
Ateisha Noel produced a bright spot for the losing team, knocking down 18 of her team's 20 goals from 22 attempts.
As far as Jamaica's preparations go, coach Joan Cargill says her team is right on track and she is seeing what she wants at this stage of the game.
"We have progressed very well. I'm pleased with the progression, we have been going from strength to strength and I hope that at the tournament (WYNC) we'll see the results.
"We looked at our court strategy and the team is gelling together. We are seeing more cohesiveness in the different combinations we use and that is what we are hoping for right throughout the tournament," she said.
In the first game of the two-Test series there were times when the Trinidadians looked as if they could compete.
Yesterday morning, however, was a different affair as the Jamaicans took them to task in blistering quarters.
Trinidad and Tobago coach, Jennifer Frank, wasn't too perturbed at the result and thought that her team could do better come time for the WYNC in Florida in July.
"We are a pretty inexperienced group going into the WYNC but I'm pretty confident that we could probably place in the top nine teams. I think we lack that aggression. We are not aggressive enough.
"The players are under pressure because we have 16 players and by the end of today we will have 12 so they had a little bit of the butterflies. This tour has helped because we are getting them to talk more netball and live more netball and they've begun to do that," said Frank.
In the first quarter Jamaica led 24-2 and stretched it to 45-9 at half-time.
The third quarter ended 64-12, before the Trinidadians gave their best performance of the morning down the stretch, scoring eight goals.
The Trinidad and Tobago team will have a practice session with the Jamaicans today before leaving the island tomorrow.
