In your neighbourhood

Bridge round-up

A very hectic final bridge week of June resulted in a tie for the Player-of-the-month award between the ever-consistent Audley Astwood and popular President Rex James whose third place in Wednesday night's leg of the David Levy Trophy allowed him to hang on to a share of the award for which he had been leading by two points.

Astwood was sharing the top spot for the third consecutive month (previous two were held jointly with the late Winston Chin-You) but could be considered lucky as, if not for the very late withdrawal of his regular partner from the Lionel Hall Trophy, and his own consequent late scratch from that major tournament, Rex James would have been the winner.

The week's results included a win on June 26 for Rex James and Shirley Tavares with an unbelievable 75 per cent round from the father and son pair of Gordon and Nicholas Robinson (59.38per cent) with Audley Astwood/Herbie Gauntlett (53.13 per cent) third. On Monday night, Rex James (with regular partner Judy Ziadie; 58.33per cent) won again from Herbie Gauntlett/ Maurice Clarke (56.94per cent) with juniors Walter Brown/Michael Marshall (53.47per cent) third. Wednesday's tourney in her husband's honour was won by Carmen Levy playing with Lynette James (61.31per cent) from Astwood/Carol Coore (55.36per cent) and James/Ziadie (50 per cent).

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Supreme Ventures Dragon Spitfire skittles

Recent Pattex Cup champions Eastern All-Stars from East Kingston made it three wins from as many matches in the inaugural Supreme Ventures Dragon Spitfire/The Dip seven-a-side skittles competition last Sunday when they defeated home team House of Peace 4-3 at Berwick Road, Whitfield Town.

With a number of singles champions at their disposal, Eastern All-Stars are favourites to win back-to-back titles, but they should be wary of the highly regarded Eagles, who also made it three in a row on Sunday. Eagles clipped Starliner 4-3 in the second match at Berwick Road to keep close tabs on arch-rivals Eastern. Even at this stage they seem the likely finalists.

In other matches played on Sunday, The Dip continued their unbeaten run with a 4-0 whipping of Waltham Strikers at Mercury Skittles Club, Old Harbour Road. In the other match at that venue, Mister C beat home team Mercury 4-3, while Olympic Strikers defeated Dragon 4-3 (4-2) and Mystix edged Willies Strikers 4-3 at Mystix, 78 3/4 Hagley Park Road.

The competition moves into its fourth round tomorrow with most of the 14 teams in action.

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Scotia 'A' crush Gleaner in BH open league netball

Defending champions Scotiabank 'A' whipped Junior League champions Gleaner 44-3 in the opening round of the Business House Netball Association Open League at the Leila Robinson Courts on Tuesday.

In a one-sided affair, former national players Marsha Murphy (captain) and Nadia Brown with 28 and 16 goals, respectively, led Scotia 'A' to a resounding victory.

In other opening round matches played on Tuesday, Scotiabank 'B' defeated Port Security Corps 22-8, HEART Trust/NTA beat Housing Agency of Jamaica 25-16, Norman Manley International Airport stopped Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica 14-5, Wisynco Group beat PanCaribbean 13-5, Jamaica Infrastructure Operators Limited defeated BOJ 21-10, Sagicor Life clipped ATL Group 21-17 and Guardian Life beat ICD Group 10-6 in a low-scoring match.

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UWI still unbeaten in BH football

With four wins and one drawn game, UWI lead the Division I standings in the KSAFA/Western Sports Business House Division I football competition.

After winning their first four matches, UWI played to a 1-1 draw against defending champions Scotiabank at the Mona Bowl last Saturday. Nicholas Smith scored for UWI in the 10th minute, but this was cancelled out by Nicholas McCreath's equaliser early in the second half.

Meanwhile, promoted Division II champions Petrojam are second in the standings with 10 points from four matches, representing three wins a draw (2-2) against former champions Carib Cement at Bull Pen. Cement's Fabian Nethersole got a brace in the first half, but Petrojam fought back strongly in the second half with a defender's goal and the other from Aphas Bernard.

Petrojam had earlier drubbed highly touted Gleaner 5-0 with two goals each from Ricardo Moore and Jonathan Watson.

Carib Cement, having drawn with Petrojam and The Gleaner 0-0, are third in the standings with nine points from four matches. Gleaner rebounded to beat National Water Commission (NWC) 2-1 at Winchester Park on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Locksley Smith and Keiron Brock.

Meanwhile, unbeaten Wisynco with maximum 12 points from four wins, lead the Division II standings.

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Hugh Sherlock are Clarendon Basic Schools champs

Hugh Sherlock Basic won the inaugural staging of the SDF/INSPORT Clarendon Likkle schools competition after beating Hazard Drive Basic 3-2 in the final played at the Jamalco Sports Club.

Kerrick Clarke with two goals and one from Jevaughn Campbell set up the win in a contest which fielded players age five and younger. Hazard Drive's goal came from Alex Salmon's lone strike and the gift of an own goal.

The third-place play-off turned out to be a one-sided affair for Treadlight Basic who defeated Race Track 3-0. Scorers were Davian Higgins (2) and Oshane Simpson (1).

Earlier when the semi-finals were played, both were decided via penalties, after both games ended similarly at 1-1 after regulation and extra time. Hugh Sherlock got the better of Treadlight 1-0 - courtesy of Campbell's lone success from the spot. Hazard Drive topped Race Track 3-0 in their penalty shoot-out.

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Cobbla Church league

The clash between unbeaten teams Mile Gully and Church United will take centre stage in this weekend's Cobbla Community Church league sponsored by the New Testament Church of God.

Both teams are on six points after wins in their two matches to date. However they trail Zone One leaders Roose United who are a point better. While Mile Gully will relish the chance for a win, a draw could spur Church United to the lead as they have a far superior goal difference.

Also on tomorrow's cards at the Cobbla Youth Camp grounds, George North has a glorious chance to make a giant leap in Group Two's standings as they are tipped to take victory against winless Spaldings at 2 p.m. George North are currently third on six points but are only separated by a point from joint leaders Spring Ground and West Road who are both out of action.

In last weekend's round, West Road and Spring Ground played to an exciting 1-1 draw with Imran Lewis scoring for West Road and Randy Hyman for Spring Ground. For the second match, Chantilly failed to turn up. They seem to be still shaken up from the 10-0 they received from Church United earlier in the league.

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Jamalco Summer League

Organisers will hope for much-improved weather this weekend when the Jamalco Summer Football League continues with five matches.

Last Saturday, a water-logged field at Wembley prevented the encounters involving South Manchester and home team Wembley as well as the Bottom Halse Hall vs Mocho contest. On Sunday, Rail Road failed to show for their game against Napoli.

In the lone game which defied the inclement weather, Invincible came out 2-1 winners over Top Halse Hall in a match played at the New Bowens playing field. The losers actually scored first through Tyrone Eccleston in the second minute before Invincible hit back with winning strikes from Oniel Carradice (62nd) and Owen Reid (84th). Invincible are now on four points, having previously drawn with New Bowens - one of the early favourites to win the competition.

Games on today: Savannah vs South Manchester at Wembley and Top Halse Hall vs Mineral Heights at New Bowens. Tomorrow: Mocho vs Hunts Pen at Mocho Community Centre; Invincible vs Ports at Wembley and Sunset vs Bottom Halse Hall.

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Portmore, Cumberland favoured

Top-ranked Portmore United are favoured to beat Passagefort United in the opening semi-final in the Senator Arthur Williams-sponsored Portmore Under-15 Football League tomorrow at the Ferdie Neita Park.

Former champs Cumberland are also fancied to get the better of Watson Grove in the feature semi-final at the venue at 3 p.m. In last Sunday's lone rescheduled game, Portmore United swamped Westport 9-0 to take the top spot on goal difference over Cumberland.

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SDC 20/20 games

The Social Development Com-mission's (SDC) All-Island Twenty/20 Cricket tournament will continue this morning weather permitting.

Defending Parish champions Bridgeport take on Belmont in a feature match in the Super-Eight round this morning at 10 at the Portsmouth Primary school ground.

In the other group match at 2 p.m., beaten parish finalists Portsmouth oppose Port Henderson at the same venue. Over in Group 2, Westchester challenge Portmore Pines at 10 a.m. at the Waterford High school field before Reids Pen take on Greater Portmore at 2 p.m. In Group 1 games tomorrow at Lime Tree Oval, Belmont take on Port Henderson, at 10 a.m., while Portsmouth play Bridgeport, at 2 p.m., in a repeat of last year's final.