FOR one-time Netball World Cup winner Trinidad & Tobago, the 2023 edition was not a fortnight to remember. The Calypso Girls have plenty of talent on paper, but could never put it all together and only came away with one win, against the lowest ranked nation in Singapore.

Even that win was only margin by 13 goals, and the gap between the once top 10 Calypso Girls and the top five was evident as they lost to New Zealand, South Africa and Jamaica by an average of 51 goals. Though they scraped into the second preliminary stage Group G, they finished the group with a goal difference of minus-208. In fairness to the Calypso Girls, there were off-field issues out of their control such as hotel security concerns, but they will be keen to look forward rather than back.

RESULTS

Group D: 3rd (1-2, -76 goal difference)

lost to New Zealand by 49 goals (27-76)
defeated Singapore by 13 goals (49-36)
lost to Uganda by 40 goals (34-74)

Group G: 5th (0-5, -208 goal difference)

lost to South Africa by 41 goals (28-69)
lost to Jamaica by 63 goals (26-89)
lost to Wales by 15 goals (55-70)

11th Placed Playoff:

lost to Fiji by 34 goals (37-71)

HIGHLIGHT

Arguably the best highlight came in a loss, with the 15-goal defeat at the hands of Wales the best performance. In that match, Trinidad & Tobago scored 55 goals, and while the Calypso Girls did conceded a high 70 goals, they did well to get their attacking movement going.

Afeisha Noel scored 44 goals from 49 attempts and pulled in three rebounds, while Joelisa Cooper put up 12 shots for 11 goals. She also finished with 27 goal assists, while centre Tia Bruno had 13. In defence, star talent Shaquanda Greene-Noel managed the three gains, two intercepts, two deflections and one rebound.

STANDOUT PLAYER

Noel was a shining light for the Calypso Girls and fronted up as the key shooter for the tournament. She finished with 182 goals playing in the goal shooter bib. Not only that, but of the 15 offensive rebounds that Trinidad & Tobago had, Noel pulled in 14 of them. She worked well with Cooper in that circle and was a key target under the post.

OTHERS

It is hard to go past the work of Greene-Noel under pretty difficult circumstance. Though it was not her best international tournament, she still stands up and has her moments, and brings the energy each and every match. Jameela McCarthy and Daystar Swift also tried hard in defence, while Cooper in attack provided support for Noel. Along with Cooper at the circle’s edge, Shantel Seemungal was also a notable feeder into the attacking goal circle.

SUMMARY

Trinidad & Tobago would come away disappointed with its tournament, though there are reasons outside the Calypso Girls’ control as to why the tournament went that way. They had some quality players, and though the results – particularly against the top five nations – would be ones to forget, they at least had the one win over Singapore, and finished off with that most competitive effort against Wales.