GENERAL Accident Insurance Company came through with seconds remaining to defeat defending champions Scotiabank ‘A’ 34-33 in a thrilling Business House Netball Association (BHNA) Open League netball final at the Leila Robinson Courts last Saturday.

The win for the insurance girls was sealed in the dying seconds of the game after the bankers led for most of the way.

Sabrina Spence, who started at the goal-attack position before switching to goal-shooter, led the way for the victors and was named the most valuable player of the final.

Nadine Bryan, captain of the General Accident team, said that she was very happy to have come out victorious.

“When you stood out a year of competition it is hard to regain your formula of playing together. However, the players played well and despite trailing in all four quarters, they turned the game around in the closing stages to win,” Bryan said.

She said Scotiabank ‘A’ are not an easy team to beat and they played well. “I told the players not to give up despite us trailing. We should fight to the very end.”

Losing coach Winston Nevers said that it was a very good and competitive game, and it is all very good for netball. “It was a very good game and the quality and standard were high from the start to finish.

“I think the umpire blundered with a call as the ball went outside off the head of the player and he called for a penalty contact which gave General Accident a one goal lead in the dying moments,’ Nevers said.

Nevers congratulated General Accident on their victory as they played extremely well to come from behind.

Scotiabank ‘A’ had the advantage in the first quarter scoring 9-6 at the break. Goal-shooter Marsha Murphy-Dawkins fine shooting pushed the bankers further ahead 16-11. However, Margaret Lawrence, one of the best shooters in the competition, kept the insurance girls in close touch but still trailed 15-18 at the half-time break.

The third quarter saw Scotiabank moving ahead 24-20, but General Accident closed the lead as the team went into the final break with Scotia 26-24 ahead.

Meanwhile, National Housing Trust (NHT) ‘A’ nipped GraceKennedy 18-17 in the third place play-off.