Sports School are North Zone champs!

NETBALL

North Zone ‘C’ Division
Singapore Sports School vs Ang Mo Kio Secondary
Friday, 9 March 2007, at Yishun Sports Hall
Pictures and score updates by Leslie Tan
Match Report by Coach Dick Yip

© redsports.sg/soulbreath pictures

Singapore Sports School continued their dominating run in the North Zone ‘C’ Division with a 23-3 win over Ang Mo Kio Secondary who put up a spirited fight in a game marked by graciousness and good sportsmanship between the two sides.

Ang Mo Kio’s Centre Farah receives the ball despite the defensive attempts of a Singapore Sports School netballer

A healthy crowd of supporters from schools in the north zone packed the gallery steps of this venue, on a hot, humid afternoon for this final battle for the ‘C’ Division Girls title between the underdogs Ang Mo Kio Secondary and the giants, Singapore Sports School. In a one-sided match, so overpowering was Sports School that Ang Mo Kio could not put one goal in until the 4th minute of the last quarter (1-18).

From the opening whistle, it was apparent from their play that the SSP girls were sending an open message to all that they are the ones to beat, not only in the north zone but in Singapore. Within minutes, they were leading 5-0, with superb possession, swift and accurate passing and reliable shooting. On occasions when Ang Mo Kio had the ball, Sports School players closed all their passing options fast, forcing them into throwing speculative high lobs forward. Most never reach their intended targets. From such turnovers, Sports School went on a free-scoring mode to close the 1st quarter at 8-0.

Ang Mo Kio’s GS Liko contemplates her next move

In the 2nd quarter the domination continued as the fitter, stronger and faster SSP girls out-manouvered their more static rivals to race ahead to 13-0. There were a couple of golden opportunities for Ang Mo Kio to break the duck but both their Goal Shooter, Liko and GA were not able to convert when the chances came.

AMK must have been wondering at the halftime break what they needed to do to prevent this encounter from being classified as a complete rout. When the 3rd quarter play resumed, the Sports School girls displayed no conciliatory mood. With better and sharper anticipation, they cut off many of the Ang Mo Kio passes to feed the ball to their GA Sim Ann or their GS Hong Ting (who was substituted by Syahidah later in a rotational move) who wasted little in giving Sports School a 16-0 lead with one minute remaining. Then, another chance to break the duck came Ang Mo Kio’s way. But it was a huge miss! On getting the ball, with seconds remaining, Sports School did not spurn their chance as their GK Yun Zhan and GD Claudia combined to get the ball out to their wingers (WD Yuan Ling , WA Angelene). With sublime control by their centre Shawallah, the ball was passed to their shooters for the inevitable 17th goal.

Sports School’s GK Shafinas stretches for the ball against AMK

The 4th and final quarter of this decidedly one-sided affair saw Ang Mo Kio making some changes to their line up. Perhaps it was to give some on the bench a much welcomed chance to at least play in an actual final for the sheer experience of it. And it was these "new faces" that salvaged some pride for Ang Mo Kio. From a loose ball situation, Sports School gained control and made it 18-0. Then the Ang Mo Kio girls, in a valiant effort to salvage some pride for their school and supporters, fought on with renewed vigour and zest. They managed to prevent their rivals from scoring for a four-minute spell with stout-hearted defending. And in the first show of what they were capable of, they physically out fought their strong rivals on a fast counter attack to get the ball to their GS Liko. With bated breath, the whole hall watched and prayed for her as the ball left her finger tips in an arc towards the rim of the post. It bounced slightly before tipping into the basket silently. The first crack in an otherwise impenetrable Sports School Great Wall. The entire hall erupted in a stupendous roar of encouragement and relief as all eyes witnessed the "18-0" score on the electronic scoreboard change to "18-1".

Ang Mo Kio’s Simin in action against Sports School

SSP responded by putting one in to make it 19-1. Not to be outdone, the Ang Mo Kio girls got the ball, guarded it well and to show their earlier effort was no fluke, scored their 2nd goal through their GA to make it 19-2. To confirm they were not finished, they pressured Sports School into a turnover, fed the ball to their GA who coolly made it goal number 3 for them. 19-3. In their euphoric state, Ang Mo Kio let their guard down in the final two minutes as Sports School went on a rampage of four goals without reply to take the match and title with a score of 23-3.