Story by Chan Hui Mui/Red Sports. Pictures by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports

South Zone Netball final 2011

Dawne Lim (Raffles GS) knocks the ball from the CHIJ GK. (Photo 1 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Monday, March 7, 2011 — Raffles Girls’ School beat CHIJ Secodary (Toa Payoh) 44-41 in extra time to defend their South Zone B Division Netball Championship title. CHIJ (TP) had lost to RGS by one point in a previous second round match

The first quarter saw CHIJ displaying strong passes and swift movements on court. On the other hand, Raffles were too casual with their passes, allowing CHIJ to lead 11-9 by the end of the first quarter.

Raffles tightened their defense in the second quarter and their defenders ‘pressure forced several turnovers. Raffles’ shooters Rebekah Yeo and Dawne Lim matched their defenders’ efforts, making their attempts count to add to their tally as RGS stole the lead in the fourth minute of the second quarter.

A series of good play saw Raffles extend their lead to four points. However, several Raffles turnovers allowed CHIJ to narrow the deficit to just one point (20-21) at half-time.

CHIJ made changes to their Goal Keeper position when they brought on a more active defender to slow down the Raffles attacking flow. Both teams were cautious and were patient in attack, committing few errors. However, a costly contact call against CHIJ’s Goal Attack gifted Raffles a three-point lead (31-28).

Everything boiled down to the final quarter. Putting up a phenomenal defense, Raffles disrupted CHIJ’s attacking flow and forced them into making inaccurate passes. However, Rebekah and Dawne could not handle the pressure well and missed some shots, and the RGS lead stood at just three.

CHIJ finally broke Raffles’ defense and found their momentum with three consecutive goals to level the game at 33-all. The last half of the quarter saw both teams scoring from their own centre passes. As CHIJ put in the last goal of the quarter to level at 37-all, Raffles ran out of time to score from their centre pass and the game headed into extra time.

CHIJ scored the first goal during the extra time but the right Raffles defence forced a couple of crucial turnovers. The RGS shooters sank in three consecutive goals to take a 40-38 lead but some outstanding play by CHIJ saw them level the game again, this time at 41-all.

However, wild passes by CHIJ gifted Raffles valuable turnovers which were converted and their shooters eventually wrapped up the game 44-41 to successfully defend their title.

Raffles’ coach, Chng Li Li analysed the game: “Both teams have done well and it was a matter of who made the least mistakes. We threw away some of our centre passes in the second and third quarter. Also, we could have put in the last goal in the fourth quarter. However, the crucial point was when we broke the opponent’s play in their centre court during the extra time to win the game. The girls wanted the game a little bit more than CHIJ.”

She jokingly added: “I did not pressurise them during the two minute interval before the extra time. I told the girls since you want to torture yourselves and entertain the crowd (with extra time), it is the time for you now.”

“However, this is not the best game that they have played. They played their best game when they played against Cedar Girls’ during the semi-final. We actually almost failed to qualify for the semi-finals when we lost to Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (in the second round), which has never happened in history. However, that was a good wake-up call.”

Go to next page for more of the story and photos