A lie in for some today, breakfast was at 9.00 followed by a shopping trip to buy gifts and things. Well parents, brothers and sisters, I know what some of you are getting! One of the Reilly family - you have something nice to put on your head!
After the shop, we had lunch and then the coaches took over to prepare for our match against a team from the development programme in the Parish of St James, a lovely area with a population of just 40,000. Our venue was Montego Bay Cricket Club. The players were asked to rest in their rooms and preferably sleep.
We met at 3.45pm for a 30 minute journey to the venue. Typical Jamaican style, there were a number of sports going on and all with plenty of seatng for spectators [netball 150+].
Well Birmingham lost, 3 - 6, 6 - 12, 7 - 17, 14 - 18. This could have been won, but the ball was not going through the hoop. St James' goal average was 72%, ours was 27%. It wasn't just the lack of goals, overhead passing when the St James' players could just pluck the ball out of the air didn't help. St James were a great team, the GS was just 12 and she was pretty amazing!! The St James Coaches, Umpires, Members of the Association and the helpers gave us a very warm welcome and offered great hospitality [as has been typical of our trip so far]. There was a great atmosphere at the court with family and friends turning out to support there players [approx 100] The TV Cameras were there as were the newspapers [think that will be out the day we leave]. After the match all the players got together swopping accents and teaching each other certain phrases. We were given plates of delicious fresh fruits and even better some delicious cake and juice, as I said we were very well taken care of by Winsomme and ger team [Winsomme will be at the airport when we leave]
These are the most recent write ups [following on from the links Malcolm provided]
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/U-16-netballers-pound-Birmingham-43-10_8654765
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/U-16s-whip-Birmingham-in-friendly_8649467
The photos are slow to upload so will try again tomorrow
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