NETBALL

National ‘B’ Division
Raffles Girls’ School vs North Vista Secondary
Friday, 20 April 2007 at Toa Payoh Sports Hall

Story by Coach Dick Yip. Pictures by Leslie Tan. Highlights of the final in episode 9 of RedSportsTV. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

For both Raffles Girls’ and North Vista, it has been a long and arduous journey with many unexpected twists and turns. But fortune favours the brave and both North Vista and RGS, having survived the odds through a minefield of tough, difficult matches duly took their rightful places to square off for the ultimate prize – the championship title! In their climb to the top of the mountain, they left behind many shattered hopes and broken dreams of teams that some thought were invincible. For RGS, they had come close over the last 6 years but the prized flag at the top had always been snatched by other teams. For North Vista, theirs had been a fairy tale come true. For never in their school history have they ever scaled so many peaks at one go. Their peaks? North Zone quarter final, semi-final, final, National quarter-final, semi-final and now the championship final. It was perhaps their triumph over the formidable Singapore Sports School team that broke the psychological barrier, spurring them on to heights never reached before.

 

RGS’ Centre Brenda Xie (in green bib) battles it out with North Vista’s captain, Yeo Mei for the ball. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Here are the highlights of that enthralling, exciting battle, fought last Friday at the top of the peak of school’s netball Everest.

North Vista (NV) started off confidently by putting in the 1st goal through the GA to lead 1-0. Raffles Girls’ School (RGS) countered with a fast reply by their GS Ting to level it 1-1. NV passing the ball well, got it to their GA who made it 2-1. RGS responded in style to make it 2-2. Play was fast and physical at this stage. NV’s WA Daphne made a beautiful long lob which connected with the GA to lead 3-2. Again RGS, with swift passes and good movement, got the ball to their GS Ting who made it 3-3. Then NV made the first of several turnovers in the 3rd minute which RGS capitalised on to lead 4-3. A turnover from an offensive foul a minute later was punished by RGS with the score reading 5-3. NV’s GS Christina then scored her first goal to narrow the score 4-5. RGS continued to apply pressure through their effective, compact play, especially in the centre. They made it 6-4. At the half way mark, NV’s Pamela (GA) successful shot made the score 5-6. Nothing much separated the two sides as they battled it out point for point. Another turnover and RGS were leading 7-5. Pamela came to the rescue again to make it 7-6. RGS’ GS took a shot and missed. As the ball rebounded from the rim, NV’s GK did not scoop up the rebound which made it easy for RGS to go for another attempt. It went in. They led 8-6. Things were not looking good for NV as RGS had pressured them into many turnovers, including the next one which they converted, to increase the lead to 9-6. With a minute left on the clock, each side managed to put in a goal for a score of 10-7 as the quarter ended.

RGS’ Centre Brenda Xie hangs in mid-air to catch a pass from a team mate. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

In the 2nd quarter NV outscored RGS by six goals to four goals. The half-time score was 15-13 in favour of  RGS.

The action in the 3rd quarter was fast and furious. The tempo in the play increased dramatically as both the teams fought hard in the hope of taking a healthy lead into the last quarter. RGS made it 16-13 in the 1st minute and from another uncharacteristic NV turnover seconds later, they led 17-13. Then it was RGS’ turn to commit an error which led to Christina of NV putting one in for 17-14. Her teammate Pamela, playing an outstanding game, made it 17-15 a minute later. Their rivals responded immediately to keep ahead 18-15. NV had the ball and it went to Christina who shot and missed but Pamela got the rebound and in it went for 18-16, right at the half way mark. Then an error by Christina led to a turnover which RGS happily put away for 19-16 lead. With a little over 3 minutes left on the clock, NV suddenly hit  a purple patch, with everyone fighting for the ball to feed it in double quick time to their GA, Pamela. Pamela duly obliged with 3 unanswered goals that sent NV supporters, which included their number one fan, their Principal Lim Lai Chuan, screaming their heads off!  " Go Vista Go! Go Vista Go!" The score was levelled at 19-19 and NV still had possession when the ball was passed to their GS Christina who was about to shoot at goal when the referee blew the whistle! The 3rd quarter belonged to NV who out-shot RGS by 6 goals to 4.

Pamela of North Vista gets to the ball before her RGS opponent GD Nikhita. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

The stage was set for a close finish in the last quarter. Pamela again shone as she put NV ahead 20-19 in the 1st minute. RGS levelled with their GS Wan Ting, who was also performing extremely well, to make it 20-20. For a quite a while, it appeared to be a private battle between NV’s Pamela and RGS’ Ting in the shooting category. Pamela again shot NV into the lead once more at 21-20 and Wan Ting countered for RGS  to level at 21-21. Within the next minute, it was 22-22. At this point another NV turnover  allowed RGS to creep ahead 23-22.  With 6 minutes left on the clock, RGS piled on the pressure, displaying good control and superb movements to go further ahead 24-22. NV checked them through a Pamela led goal ,24-23. RGS surged forward again in a fast attack to make it 25-23, with less than 5 minutes left. The NV supporters were cheering their team on, never giving up. That inspired Pamela again, as she  put in her umpteenth goal, to close dangerously at 25-24 with a little over 3 minutes of play left. But that was to be the last goal for the NV girls as RGS put in 3 more goals in those closing minutes with a fine display of end-game composure to take the match at 28-24. RGS had outshot their rivals in this final quarter by 9 goals to 5.

RGS’ GS Wan Ting attempts a goal against North Vista. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

What a match this had turned out to be! At the final whistle, the RGS girls were screaming and jumping in jubilation as can be expected of deserving winners. The North Vista girls were most gracious, patiently waiting for their rivals, who had temporarily "lost themselves" in their celebrations, to offer their congratulations. RGS fully deserved the title as they were more compact, showed greater composure under pressure and made fewer mistakes. North Vista must be highly commended for making history. They have shown to one and all that the little neighbourhood guy can not only overcome all odds to survive but succeed as well. It would not be surprising that North Vista Secondary School’s spectacular run would in turn motivate others having similar dreams and aspirations in the near future, not only in netball but I’m pretty certain in other sports as well.                                                                                              

Editor’s note: If you recognise yourself or your team mate in the pictures, please let us know your name. We have also referred to your position in cases where we don’t know your names. If you can let us know your names, we’ll update the story. More pictures in the gallery. Enjoy!