Story by REDintern Grace Sim. Photos by REDintern Low Hui Yu

national b division netball

The IJTP WA stretches for the ball. (Photo 1 © Low Hui Yu/Red Sports)

CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) Indoor Sports Hall, Friday, April 15, 2011 — In the first semi-final match played on Friday, CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) displayed their dominance in the National C Division Netball Championship with their convincing 47-21 victory over Cedar Girls’ Secondary.

Despite the home ground advantage, the IJ girls started slow in the first quarter. They led Cedar 12-9 at the end of the first quarter but managed to extend their lead to 23-13 by half-time.

Cedar had momentum in the third quarter but their Goal Attack, Shalini Mariyappan, sustained an ankle injury in the last few minutes and Cedar were forced to make changes in their attacking line-up. The IJ captain and Centre, Tang Jie Min, marshalled the more experienced defenders to pressure Cedar’s attack, giving them little time to settle for the rest of the match.

With a comfortable 31-19 lead going into the last quarter, IJTP’s attack flowed more freely with a simple game play. The team capitalised on Cedar’s unforced errors which gave Goal Shooter Pennie Kwan more shooting opportunities. In IJTP’s goal circle, Cedar captain and Goal Defence Shakilah Devi could do little to out-jump the taller IJ shooter.

IJTP scoring 16 goals in contrast to Cedar’s two in the last quarter, to wrap up the match with a final score of 47-21.

Knowing it would be a tough match, Cedar coach Ms Chng Li Li remained undeterred by the score-line.

“The Cedar girls had a good conversion rate on the attempted shots despite the pressure from the bigger-sized IJ girls.”

With four players from last year’s championship team, IJTP coach Ms Kok Mun Wai said: “There is no pressure to be the defending champions. The girls will have to take it as just another match, play their own game, and not worry about their opponent.”

Cedar Girls’ will meet Dunman Secondary to play for the bronze medal on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011, 12.10pm after which IJTP will defend their title against Raffles Girls’ School in the final to be held at 2.30pm. The matches will be played at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

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