The 2010 knockout queens Chargers showed contenders Rockets that gone are the days when two stars could create a good movie without any proper supporting cast when the Goddards Enterprising Division 1 league continued on Wednesday night at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
Chargers repeated their four sets knockout finals victory over Rockets 26-24, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19 to move to 3-0 after previous wins over Sentry Insurance Deacons and 8000 Inc. Carlton.
Rockets’ professionals Shari Matthews and Anicia Wood once again failed to conquer the all-round team support of Chargers.
It was obvious that Rockets, under the tutelage of former national coach Paul Payne, had done their homework to defend against Chargers as many of the line shots from veteran Sharon Bovell were anticipated and kept alive.
Counter-attack
Unfortunately, the Rockets counter-attack was not potent enough and Bovell had too much supporting cast for the Rockets to deal with.
Southpaw Dania Hamilton was not fully fit but she still scored heavily while Bovell, Akeila Philips, captain Tonya Joseph and a reinvented and aggressive Avara Brown kept Chargers in the hunt for the double.
A reincarnated libero Katrina Alleyne showed surprising skill in her ground work in defence and court control which the Rockets could not have planned for.
Even so, while Matthews looked her usual threat on the wing, moving Wood to one of the wings did not prove as rewarding as Payne would have expected.
The under work of Rockets’ two key hitters and the lack of production from the other players have left the Rockets in the “what might have been state” in this new season.
Newly promoted British American Insurance Jackson Jaguars mauled Powerade The Club 25-10, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16 to advance to their third victory at the senior level, while Deacons scored a fortuitous win over Carefree Toners who had to default their match from, 16-18, in the second set.
Veteran Jennifer Harris suffered an ankle injury in the first set which the Toners lost 17-25 and with just six players, after Harris was unable to continue the match during the second set, Deacons claimed victory 25-17, 25-16, 25-0.
A lone Division 2 women’s game which was played at the same venue saw the Rockets getting the better of The Club in straight sets, 25-11, 25-17.
