City schools claim elementary school soccer, netball titles islandwide | Sports

Obviously spurred on by a visit from Chelsea star Raheem Sterling before they left on Friday, Kingston and St Andrew champions Pembroke Hall Primary School defeated a spirited St James’ Corinaldi Avenue primary 1-0 to secure the insport all -Island football competition to win the Discovery Bay Community Center.

The St Patrick’s Primary secured a clean victory for city teams to capture the netball crown of all islands’ primary schools with a hard-fought 18-15 victory over defending champion Bethabara of Newport, Manchester.

In the third-place play-off, Bridgeport defeated Holland 3-1 in football, while Corinaldi Avenue defeated White Horses 13-8 in netball.

Each winning team in both competitions received $200,000, the runner-up $125,000; third $75,000 and fourth $50,000.

The winning coaches also received incentives for their work.

Players also benefited from cash incentives from Anthony Warren, who donated US$50 to the winning teams and J$5,000 to the two MVPs.

Sports Secretary Olivia Grange, who was there to present the awards, as well as St. Ann North Western MP Krytsal Lee congratulated the teams and noted that all were winners.

“Congratulations to Pembroke Hall and St Patrick’s, you did a great job,” said Grange.

“The others, you’re all winners, the fact that you’re here today,” she added, noting that the competition started last November with 200 teams.

Both teams played well in the soccer final, the youngsters showed skill and understanding of the game.

Pembroke Hall showed determination and decent defensive organization to keep their opponents at bay for most of the second half after right winger Nathan Hudson put them ahead just after the break.

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Pembroke Hall manager Bjorn Folkes said his team, led by a woman Tianna Grant, who was voted MVP after the game, is confident of going to the final.

“It was a good game, quite competitive, very tactical. Both teams play the same style, both teams want to pass the ball and it was just about who could keep possession and watch the ball better and that’s how we won,” said Folkes.

Folkes said before the game the team relied on a system that worked all season. He said the team’s confidence was further boosted when Sterling paid them a visit before they left for St Ann.

“It’s a confident bunch; then we had a little boost, we had a very special visit today, Mr Sterling was over today so the boys came out with a real rush.”

And with three municipal titles in their possession, St. Patrick’s was excited to win their first All-Island title despite going up against the defending champion.

By the way, both teams played in the same colors, pink and blue.

St Patrick’s manager Lecia Walters was grateful for the win after a tough game.

“First of all, I want to thank God for the win. The game was a very difficult game. It’s the toughest game I’ve played all season; and with the constant rain – it was raining back and forth so sometimes we had to come off the pitch for the rain to stop – but it was a good game.

“It’s very good, the girls are so proud of themselves and we just feel so good knowing we’re the All Island Champions now.”