SHANICE Beckford gave herself the perfect 28th birthday present when she led Manchester Spurs to the 2023 Seprod/Netball Jamaica (NJ) Elite League title on Sunday.

After defeating the St Ann Orchids 62-54 on Friday, April 14, the Spurs won the second contest 50-48 to clinch the best-of-three finals 2-0 at the National Arena.

Beckford, who plays goal attack and is also the captain of Manchester Spurs, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the finals.

“The feeling is great. I’m just happy to be winning the title on my birthday, and I wouldn’t want to lose the match on a special day like this. It is a very nice way to celebrate my birthday and I am very grateful,” Beckford told the Jamaica Observer.

“It means a lot to me. I am happy I was able to come into the Manchester Spurs team with my skill set and to help the team retain the title. It has been hard work and I am just happy everything worked out. I would give them seven out of 10 for the level of competition not being as expected, compared to the previous leagues before,” said Beckford, who was part of the senior Sunshine Girls teams that won bronze at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, and that placed fourth at the 2015 Netball World Cup.

The match started evenly for both teams in the opening minutes of play as neither team wanted to risk anything so early in the crucial matchup. Manchester Spurs eventually found a rhythm, though and edged out to a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Similar to what they did in the first game, the Spurs then showed their class, stepped up the tempo in the second quarter, and extended their lead by seven at 27-20.

St Ann Orchids got going in the third quarter and cut the Spurs’ lead to 39-35 to set up a blazing fourth and final quarter.

In an attempt to push for victory and force a third and deciding game the Orchids came out firing, outscoring the Spurs early on in the final quarter. With less than three minutes to go in the final quarter the Orchids got within two points of their opponents but could not get over the line in the end.

Goal shooter Shantel Slater led the way for Manchester Spurs with 40 goals from 44 attempts.

“Overall, I am just grateful that we were able to play some netball after three years of not having the league due to COVID, and also getting the opportunity to get some match and court fitness under our belt in preparation for the world championship this July,” said Beckford, who is the current vice-captain of the senior Sunshine Girls.