Shamrock senior team, Shamfest 2K14 champions.
“This tournament was a great success, and we are pleased to have had the support of all of our members, our sister clubs and the young up and coming netballers.”
Those were the words of Marvelle Modeste, president of the venerable Shamrock Sports Club, as she closed out the Shamfest 2K14 Netball Championships on Wednesday evening at the Vigie Multipurpose Sports Complex.
Shamrock’s senior team emerged winners, after a hard-fought victory over Eagles in the title match.
The young ladies from Grande Riviere were hoping to avenge themselves on the tournament organisers for a defeat suffered in the preliminary rounds, but they can hold their heads up high that they were able to stay within shouting distance of one of Saint Lucia’s powerhouse teams, going down just 31-38.
Both teams had 54 shots on goal, but Shamrock’s superior passing and conversion rate made all the difference.
National player and former Sportswoman of the Year Germaine Altifois-Fenelon scored 15 of her 26 attempts on goal, whilst Jacqueline Remy converted a very efficient 23 of 28.
Eagles were making adjustments in the shooting circle, due to the loss of one of their most prolific attackers through injury, but Gaenaelle Solomon eventually hit on 10 of 17 attempts, Chervelle Huggins 13 of 19 and Crystal Merius 8 of 18.
In the third place playoff, Sandals beat Shamrock’s junior team 27-16.
President of the Saint Lucia National Netball Association, Mrs Liota Charlemagne-Mason, presented a number of awards during the closing ceremony.
Gaenaelle Solomon of Eagles was named Best Shooter, whilst teammate Elsa Philbert was adjudged Best Attacking Player. Karma Martial of Sandals was handed the award for Best Defender.
Mrs Charlemagne-Mason commended the Shamrock Sports Club for hosting the tournament, while encouraging other teams to emulate this initiative, adding that Shamfest would certainly be included on the association’s annual calendar of activities.