Bermuda Win Battle of the Isles Tournament Silver Medal
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Women’s National Netball team battled fiercely in the final of the Battle of the Isles Netball Tournament but were ultimately forced to settle for a well-earned silver medal after falling 61-32 to the dominant Canadian side. The defeat, while disappointing, was the only thing standing between the 'Longtails' and a perfect tournament.
First Quarter: Bermuda kept pace initially, with Inshan-Nae Smith netting 4 goals and Zakiyah Durham adding 5. However, Canada finished the quarter with a tight 13-9 advantage.
Second Quarter Shift: The Canadians tightened their defence significantly in the second period, restricting Bermuda to just five goals. Smith scored 4, but Durham was held to just a single goal. Canada capitalised fully, pulling away to a commanding 32-14 lead at the half-time break.
Despite the growing deficit, Bermuda showed resilience and fighting spirit in the second half.
Third Quarter: Bermuda’s scoring struggled against the intense pressure, adding 7 goals with JahKenya Trott netting 5 and Durham scoring 2. Canada maintained their dominance, leading 48-21 heading into the final period.
Final Quarter: The Longtails managed their highest-scoring quarter in the fourth, netting 11 goals. Trott finished strong with 7 goals, while Durham chipped in with 4, as the match concluded with a final score of 61-32 to the undefeated Canadians.
The scoring was distributed among the attackers, with Trott and Durham both finishing the final with 12 goals each, and Smith adding 8 goals.
The final match capped a demanding run for the Longtails, whose successful campaign included a vital win against hosts St. Maarten and a dominant performance against Guadeloupe. The squad heads home with a well-deserved silver medal and valuable ranking points, confirming the significant progress being made by the National Netball Programme on the international stage.
Earlier in the day, the Bermuda National Netball team executed their plan to perfection this morning, delivering a crushing 83-6 victory over Guadeloupe in their seventh match of the Battle of the Isle Netball Tournament.
The dominant performance served as the ideal warm-up, allowing the 'Longtails' to rest key players and turn their full attention to the highly anticipated final against Canada later this evening.
Bermuda Dominate from the WhistleThe match was a clinical exercise in efficiency and control from Bermuda, who needed a big win to boost ranking points while managing player minutes.
Bermuda burst out of the gates, quickly establishing a formidable advantage to lead 14-2. Inshan-Nae Smith was accurate with 8 goals, while JahKenya Trott added 6.
The Longtails were relentless, racking up an incredible 26 goals in the second quarter alone. Trott found her rhythm, sinking 21 goals, with Smith adding 5 more. The half-time score stood at an overwhelming 40-3 in favour of Bermuda.
The second half continued the trend of Bermudian dominance, allowing the coaching staff to strategically rotate the squad ahead of the final.
Trott remained in superb form, adding 14 goals, while Smith chipped in with 5. Bermuda extended their lead to 59-4 after three quarters, effectively sealing the victory and providing valuable court time for the entire squad.
The final quarter saw a further 25 goals scored by Bermuda, with the introduction of Keizhari Knight providing a fresh burst of energy. Knight contributed a massive 20 goals in the quarter, with Jahture Trott adding 4.
The victory was built on a massive scoring effort, led by the precision of Jahkenya Trott who scored 41goals, Keizhari Knight added 20 goals, Inshan-Nae Smith chipped in with 18 goals, and Jahture Trott scored 4 times.
