Semi-final day in Elite League Hummingbirds face Racers in feature

Defending champions Kingston Hummingbirds will face  dark horses St Catherine Racers in the feature of the Red Stripe Flavours Netball Elite League semi-finals at the National Indoor Sport Centre today at 7 p.m.

In the opening game at 6 p.m., table-toppers Manchester Spurs take on fourth-place finishers St Ann Orchids. 

Coach of Kingston Hummingbirds Kerry Ann Brown said they face a very tough races team but backs her players to get the better of their opponents.

"We are the defending champions, and we had expected that we would have topped the zone, but we came in second, which is okay because the season started a bit late and we didn't have a chance to train as much as we wanted. 

"So coming in second is good enough. Going into the semi-final we are working to win that one and advance to the final.

"Racers are an excellent team. They have good shooters and experienced defenders. We are looking to counter their attack and score our goals, but we will fight straight through from the first to the last whistle," she said.

Racers coach  Rasheed Joseph  also believes in the quality of his team and their ability to get the win over their more fancied opponents.

"It is a quality team, but I believe in my ladies. As long  they maintain a disciplined game, without a doubt,we will be victorious.

"It would be the right time to beat them because at the semi-finals, it's win or go home, and I truly believe once we can get our act together, we can put away our opponents and move on to the final.

"It's going to be a tough task, but we have done it before, and we are looking forward to winning it again," he stated.

In the first game, Manchester Spurs will start strong favourites, but St Ann Orchids coach Chad James believes they can pull off the upset.

"We have been building and playing better every week, and I think we are the best defensive team in the league. We have kept all the teams at their lowest score.  I definitely think the trajectory that we are on we are heading in the right direction, and with a little more consistency, we will give a lot of teams trouble in the end," he commented.

Spurs coach Dalton Hinds pointed out that they are all eager to right the wrongs of last season, and the first step is getting back to the final.

"We are confident in our abilities and what we can do. We have a good squad, and once we execute, we should be difficult to beat.

"The team who wants it more will definitely come out victorious, and having been to the final last year and lost, the ladies want to ensure they get into the final and give themselves a chance of winning this time around," said Hinds.