NIC edge past Prisons in EA Netball Club Championship

By David Namunyala in Zanzibar

East Africa Netball Club Championship

Early results

NIC 35 Prisons 32

KCCA 37 Mafunzo 36

Prisons 42 Uhamiaji 30

Uhamiaji 52 Zimamoto 38

KCCA 40 KVZ 28

Late games,

Zimamoto v JKT Ruvu

Prisons v JKU

Moict v KVZ

Thursday

Mafunzo v Mbweni

JKU v JKT Ruvu

NIC v Uhamiaji

Title holders NIC narrowly survived being humiliated by fellow Ugandan team Prisons as they both met in their fourth group stage encounter at the ongoing East Africa Netball Club Championship at the Gymkhana Club in Zanzibar.

The insurance side came from behind to beat the wardresses in a tight game that ended 35-32 Wednesday to maintain the lead in their group with 8 points with a game in hand scheduled for Thursday.

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Prisons Jessica Achan tries to protect the ball. PHOTO: David Namunyala

Goal shooter Stella Oyella played a tremendous role as she netted NIC’s winning goals in the final quarter following an early chase in the opening quarters that ended 6-7 in favour of Prisons in the first quarter, 14-17 in the second and another 25-26 chase in the third quarter.

Oyella scored 21 as Hadija Nakabuye added 14 goals to the teams score sheet while Florence Amono and Stella Nanfuka netted Prisons consolation goals.

NIC is left with Uhamiaji on Thursday in a game that will determine who they will be meeting in the semi finals scheduled for Friday at the same venue.

Meanwhile in Group B, KCCA’s hopes of qualifying to the next stage will depend on the results between the game against JKT Mafunzo and JKT Mbweni who are in action on Thursday.

KCCA beat KVZ 40-28 to register their second win at the weeklong event to tie at 4 points with JKT Mafunzo. They had earlier beaten Mafunzo 37-36 in an earlier encounter.

This year’s event ending on Saturday, March 21 has attracted 11 teams in the women’s category and four competitors in the men’s side.