Phoenix Heat put their slow start to the Netball Bermuda Winter League behind them to clinch the Sylvia Eastley Memorial at Bernard Park on Saturday.

Heat, the bottom team in the Premier Division, won four and drew one match to finish with 13 points. They started off by beating North Village 11-10, saw off Storm Surge 9-6, played out a 7-7 stalemate with Devonshire Colts Diamonds, defeated Atlantic Aces 12-5 and ended it with an 8-0 triumph over Lindo’s Tigers.

Kianté Lightbourne, one of the senior Heat players, is looking to use the success on Saturday as a way of turning around the team's fortunes.

“Winning the tournament is a good confidence builder for us and reminds everyone what we are capable of,” she said.

“I think the team is just ready to build on the good result and take the rest of the season one game at a time.

“It was short games and rolling subs, so everyone knew that coach was going to pull us out if we weren’t doing what we had to do.

“But we were also enjoying netball. It was also a combination of the Flames and Heat teams, so we saw a few new combinations as well.We took it one game at a time and it always helps to not get too far ahead of yourself.”

“We were glad that we could take some notes from our junior teams who have been crushing it in their respective divisions.

“They are all currently undefeated at the top of their respective leagues, so we definitely want to live up to the high bar they are setting for us.

“We are excited to get back on the court soon and build on this strong start to the new year.”

Village, with three wins, a draw and one loss, occupied second position. Storm were third, Tigers fourth, Aces fifth and Diamonds, the only team not to record a victory on the day, ended at the bottom.

In the juniors, who were playing for the Merle Parfitt Hustle tournament, Phoenix Sparks took the 10 and under, Phoenix Embers triumphed in the 13 and under, while Village were victorious in the 16 and under division.

The matches for seniors were played in two seven-minutes halves, with the juniors battling it out in over halves of five minutes each.