Final Score:
KE vs KR - 0 : 20

Our netball team players knew that whatever good was in store for them that day, it would have to be hard-earned. And that was the spirit in which our players strode on the court at Raffles Hall on that chilly Thursday afternoon – the spirit of fighting for victory.

As soon as the match started it was clear that the KR team consisted of experienced players, and it did not take long for everyone present to notice that the Keviian girls were tense. This did play against them, with the first quarter ending with a score of 0-5 in favour of KR. However, these were not easily-earned points for KR. Tense they were indeed, but the Keviian girls were not at all prepared to make life easy for the KR players. Good team play and good defence were the golden rules by which our team abided till the end of the game.

Our players started the second quarter of the game on a noticeable note of urgency. They wanted to score, and it was with determination that the KE girls began to attack. Players like Kim and Eunice looked quite threatening to our opponents on numerous occasions. This did not deter the equally good attacking team of KR from scoring. The game then took an interesting twist when Kim successfully threw the ball through the loop, but this was not considered a successful shot because of a mistake preceding it. Many of those watching the game, score-keepers included, were however mislead into thinking the shot was a successful one. The scores at the end of the second quarter actually read 11-1 in favour of KR.

The beginning of the second half saw our players playing mostly on the defensive. Instances of nervousness on the part of the KE girls could be seen through some of the loose passes being made, but the drive to score was still very much present. It was in fact this very determination which made it difficult for the KR players to score the 9 points they did in the second half, keeping even the KR supporters on the edge of their seats – or rather on the tips of their toes. At the sound of the final whistle, the scores read 20–1 in favour of KR, with KE being awarded the 1 point it actually never earned.

It was at the end of the game when the official scoring sheet had to be signed by the captains that Kim, along with the other KE netball team members, clearly said that they did not agree with the final scores since KE never did score. The scores were corrected to 20-0. “We did lose. But not our pride and honesty”, said Kim with a hearty laugh. Disappointment sure was present among the KE players, but so was the pride of knowing that they had done their level best. That, coupled with the warm team spirit which prevailed among the players, should be enough to make all of us Keviians proud of our netball players.

(The game was not the only thing the KE players lost that day. A ferocious colony of ants at the Raffles Hall’s court feasted on their packed dinner while they were playing!)

- Nandeenee