NETBALL

North Zone, ‘B’ Division Semi-Finals
Ang Mo Kio Secondary vs North Vista Secondary
Thursday, 1 March 2007, at Singapore Sports School

Pictures by Leslie Tan. Text by Dawn Tan.
© redsports.sg/soulbreath pictures

The netballers of Ang Mo Kio Secondary and North Vista Secondary met in a hard-fought nail-biting game that saw North Vista triumph to enter the finals for the first time in their school’s history.


North Vista’s Valerie Ng plays on despite a knee injury

Ang Mo Kio held the lead at the end of the first and second quarters (8-4, 16-13) but the turning point came in the third quarter, as the North Vista girls steadily closed the gap. The tension, both on and off the court, was palpable. Despite the persistent rain, supporters lined the court, and every miss or goal was greeted with groans and cheers.


North Vista’s Principal Mr Lim (in brown shirt) cheers on the girls with his staff in the rain.

North Vista finally clawed their way to a draw at 20-20, and thereafter the teams moved neck-and-neck. The battle had its share of injuries, in part due to the wet conditions. At one point, Valerie Ng, the North Vista Goal Defence (GD), was limping and visibly in pain, but bravely soldiered on after a brief timeout. Similarly, one of the Ang Mo Kio players (Editor: Please let us know your name!) sprained her ankle while her team held a razor-thin lead at 24-23. After a quick assessment, the coach marshalled the team to a quick change of roles and bibs and play resumed. Despite the psychological effect that must have had, the girls stoically pressed on.


Ang Mo Kio’s GK defends gamely against North Vista

24-23 became 24-24, then 24-25, 24-26, 24-27, 25-27,26-27, 27-27.  Both coaches could be heard calling out urgent instructions to their teams. The North Vista coach, in a bid to fend off complacency, warned, “We’re not done yet, we’re not done yet.” The Ang Mo Kio C Division netballers, fresh from their victory over SJC, called out, “Seniors, jia you!”


Ang Mo Kio’s ‘C’ netballers cheering on their seniors

The game was decided in the final minutes, when play went in favour of the North Vista girls. At the whistle, the score stood at 28-30. Dejection on the Ang Mo Kio side, sheer delight and jubilation among the North Vista girls.

This is the first time that North Vista have made it to the zone finals (their previous best was a place among the top 4). When asked for their reaction, GD Valerie Ng said, "Oh my god…" Echoing her sentiments, her fellow teammates said that this was a breakthrough game for them. Daphne Sim (Wing Attack) let on that they motivated each other by chanting "Yishun Sports Hall, Yishun Sports Hall." (the venue of the finals).

North Vista netballers hug each other in tears of joy

Red Sports also listened in as North Vista principal Mr Lim Lai Chuan spoke to the team. “The victory belongs to you,” he said, but it was also “a triumph for the school that you have gone so far.” Promising the school’s fullest support when the girls play their final against Singapore Sports School next week, he noted that their opponents were “probably the national champions, not just North Zone champions…. But we will show them that we are not minnows. We are as good as you, if not better.”

Fitting words for a determined team. And here are their names, as provided by their captain:

– Yeo Mei (captain)
– Charine Chong
– Valerie Ng
– Ong Min Hui
– Tang Ming Yue
– Daphne Sim
– Chrstina Koh
– Pamela Liew
– Yu Mei Ling
– Low YuHui
– Joanne Tee
– Jolene Pang

Congratulations girls!
Play hard. Play fair. May the best team win.

More action shots in the Picture Gallery.

Editor’s note:  Please let us know your name if we have shown your picture or referred to you in the article.  We’ll update the report.  Thanks.

Quarter-by-quarter score:

North Vista vs Ang Mo Kio

4-8
13-16
22-21
30-28