Rallies open schoolgirls’ netball season

The Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) schoolgirls netball competitions will get under way today with the playing of the Urban Area and Rural Area Under-16 and Under-19 rallies.

The Urban Area rallies occur at the Leila Robinson Courts at 9 a.m., with the Rural Area rallies scheduled for Manchester High at 9:30 a.m.

ISSA's netball coordinator, Joan Walker, believes the performance of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls in the recent Netball World Cup in South Africa will inspire the girls participating in both competitions to display their best.

"Following the results of our Sunshine Girls at the recent World Championships in South Africa, where they ended third, there is a new wave in local netball, and we expect great competition this season," said Walker.

Norman Manley and St Catherine High will be hoping to defend their titles after tasting success in last year's rallies. Norman Manley won the Urban Area Under-16 rally by beating Jose Marti 8-2 in the final, with St Catherine winning the Under-19 final with a narrow 4-3 win over Camperdown.

Denbigh High won the Rural Area Under-16 rally last year, with Holmwood capturing the Under-19. Both defeated Manchester High in the respective finals.

In the Urban Area Under-16 competition, 27 teams will participate, with 21 going for glory in the Under-19 tournament.

URBAN UNDER-16: Tarrant, Norman Manley, Camperdown, Bridgeport, Merl Grove, Cedar Grove, Campion, Papine, Clan Carthy, Titchfield, Kingston Technical High, Holy Childhood, Enid Bennett, Immaculate, Meadowbrook, The Queen's School, St Hugh's, Vauxhall, Old Harbour, Dinthill, Jose Marti, Gaynstead, St Catherine, Tivoli, Mona, Charlie Smith, Horace Clarke.

URBAN UNDER-19: Guy's Hill, Tarrant, Norman Manley, Camperdown, Bridgeport, Merl Grove, Cedar Grove, Campion, Waterford, Papine, Titchfield, Holy Childhood, Immaculate, Queen's, St Hugh's, Vauxhall, Old Harbour, Dinthill, Jose Marti, St Catherine, Horace Clarke.