Rangers' goal-shoot Nikita Piggott (with ball) receiving a pass while being marked closely by Spurs' goal defence Paula Greaves. (Picture by Clifton Henry.)

by CLIFTON HENRY

FATIGUE was more than likely the cause of the poor showing by Banks Spurs in their Division 1 game against C. O. Williams Rangers at the Netball Stadium on Wednesday night.

Spurs' visibly disappointed coach Sandrene Jordan told NATIONSPORT after the game she would have to take the blame for her team's 42-26 defeat.

"I believe that over-training the night before left the girls drained. We had a very long workout going for as many as eight 20-minute quarters or longer.

"The girls felt confident and just wanted to go on and on and for this I think it was too much in the end. I will definitely have to go back to the drawing board but especially with our mid-court which is still not clicking," she added.

It was evident from the first quarter that the Spurs were not at their best and this gave the Rangers added impetus to arrest their opponents. There were several missed opportunities. Spurs' marking was somewhat poor and this allowed the Rangers to rush to a 12-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and 21-13 in the second.

In the second and third quarters the Spurs began with a flurry of goals, but soon ran out of steam as the Rangers went into attack and destroy mode.

The Spurs' best showing was in the third quarter when they pulled back within eight goals of Rangers to finish the quarter 20-28. However, at the beginning of the final quarter it seemed as if during the break someone erected a no entry sign in the Rangers' half of the court as it was all one-way traffic from the sound of the whistle.

Rangers reeled off another 14 goals to the six by Spurs, who somehow found their way through the bumper to bumper traffic in their half of the court.

For Rangers Linda Harris scored 22 goals from 27 attempts, Nikita Piggott 13 from 25 and Salisha Auguste seven from ten. For Spurs Shanice Banfield had eight goals from ten tries and Colleen Griffith 18 from 27.

Other games played: Central Bank 27, Wotton 13; Bico Delight 28, Silver Raiders 26; Bathsheba 32, Police 20; Unity Stars 23, Beverley Hills 27; Flashbacks 23, Rangers 11.