DEFENDING rural schoolgirl netball champions Holmwood were in a rampant mood yesterday at Clarendon Park, in the penultimate games of the Issa/Digicel Rural Netball Competition, as the Carlene Graham-Powell-coached team gave Thompson Town High a netball lesson.

The title holders overwhelmed their opponents 85-6 to stay atop Group 4 with six points. Led by National Under-21 goal shooter Deneen Taylor, it was a merciless Holmood team who turned on the heat early.

In a first quarter which saw Taylor showing great accuracy, the champions raced to a 21-11 lead. Holmwood continued their onslaught for the remainder of the game, as they pushed their lead to 42-3 at half time, then 64-5 in the third quarter before adding 21 more in the last quarter, as their opponents failed to reach double figures. The All-Island title holders recorded the highest total scored in any schoolgirl netball competition this season.

Although winning impressively, coach Graham-Powell had mixed feelings.

"It was good for us to see how many we could score, but at the same time I am not happy with the competition in the seniors. We are not getting good challenges and that could be problem for us later in the competition," she said.

By virtue of their impressive win yesterday the defending champions are favourites to top the group, although they will play joint-leaders Dinthill Technical in their final match of the round on Tuesday, at G.C. Foster College.

third successive win

Dinthill remained unbeaten in the group after their third successive win, where they had a narrow 30-28 victory over St Mary High at G.C. Foster College. Titchfield were also among the winners yesterday edging Muschette High 16-15 at Buckfield, Ocho Rios.

Former champions Denbigh remained unbeaten in Group I, as they stayed perfect, winning their third match in a row to move to six points after getting the better of Decarteret 51-7.

Other winners in the group were Frome Technical, who are also on six points, after stopping Black River 19-9 and Albert Town, who defeated Irwin 18-17, in a close affair at Kaiser Sports Club.

In Group 3, which is a very close affair, former champions Herbert Morrison returned to winning ways after their earlier defeat to Tacius Golding. They turned back Happy Grove 41-9 to move to four points. Tacius Golding and Edwin Allen are also on four points. At the Queens School in Kingston, Tacius Golding had an easy 40-29 win over Oracabessa High, while former champions Edwin Allen had a 31-13 win over Porus High at Clarendon Park.

Mannings High and Glenmuir High are joint leaders in Group 2 with six points, as both won their matches yesterday. Mannings, who are also former champions, had a good 38-6 victory over Brown's Town, while Glenmuir stopped Manchester High 22-19 at the same venue.

In Junior action, defending champions Holmwood Technical led the way easily defeating Clarendon College 42-10 at Clarendon Park. The other game in the group saw Islington and Old Harbour playing to an exciting 18-18 tie.