BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Oct 24, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Girls are in prime position to secure a spot at next year’s Netball World Cup after demolishing Canada 61-32 for their fourth straight win at the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers here on Friday.
However, the Barbados Gems suffered a setback in their bid to snag one of the two qualifying spots on offer when they were stunned 43-41 by the USA to suffer their first defeat of the tournament.
With the results, T&T are now the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition, with three games remaining.
With usual starter Samantha Wallace-Joseph being rested, Maikea Bramble produced an impressive display of shooting, netting 55 of her 58 attempts at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
T&T jumped out to an early 18-6 lead and never looked back, extending their advantage to 16 (31-15) at the half.
The result was all but sealed in the third quarter as T&T stamped their dominance, outscoring their opponents 17-11 to hold a 48-26 lead heading into the final quarter.
Kalifa McCollin scored all six of her attempts for the winners, while Ladonna Lamonth led Canada with 18 goals from 37 attempts, and Jacqueline Kelly tallied 14 goals from 17 attempts.
Needing a win over USA to solidify their chances of finishing in the top two, Barbados would have been favourites after winning their first three matches.
However, the USA produced a gutsy performance to keep their qualification hopes alive, with both teams having similar 3-1 records.
In the day’s other early match, St. Vincent and The Grenadines thrashed the British Virgin Islands 91-13, led by 71 goals from 74 attempts from Mary-Ann Frederick.
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