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Bridge round-up

Ladies dominated the week's bridge with women making up at least a half of each of the top three pairs in both events played. Monday evening's leg of the Horace Payne Memorial Trophy was won by the pair of Mickiko Asonuma and Hubert 'Brodsy' White, whose 59.03 per cent round was just enough to pip the second-place pair of Monica Cools-Lartigue and Marlene Fulford (58.33 per cent) by one half of a match point. Judy Ziadie and Rex James (56.94 per cent) finished third.

On Wednesday night, the big pair of Judy Ziadie and Rex James resumed their winning ways in that evening's leg of the David Levy Trophy with an outstanding 64.29 per cent round scoring cosily from Valerie Marshall and Herbert Gauntlett (61.50 per cent). The first two pulled well clear of Monica Cools- Lartigue and Marlene Fulford (52.98 per cent), whose third place was their second top-three finish of the week.

Scotiabank 'A' and 'B' unbeaten in BH netball

Defending champions Scotiabank 'A' continued their unbeaten run in the Business House Netball Association Open League when they crushed Housing Agency of Jamaica 59-2 at the Leila Robinson Courts recently.

Goal shooter Marsha Murphy scored 51 goals, while Viola Francis-Cummings supported with eight. Scotiabank 'A' are unbeaten in three matches, having slammed Gleaner and Lasco in their two previous matches.

Also unbeaten with three wins each are Scotiabank 'B', Jamaica Broilers and General Accident. Last Saturday, former champions General Accident drubbed Wray & Nephew 43-3, Jamaica Broilers crushed Jamaica Bureau of Standards 52-9 and Scotiabank 'B' beat the ATL Group 26-10.

In other matches, Port Security topped Norman Manley International Airport 14-6, Pan Caribbean defeated BoJ 14-7, Digicel whipped Flow 30-7, GraceKennedy beat VMBS 11-5, NHT stopped JNBS 25-10, Jamaica Constabulary Force beat JPS 21-18, NWC clipped Advantage General Insurance Company 21-18, RETT beat LIME 17-9, Jamaica Infrastructure Operators defeated ICD Group 16-10, Guardian Life beat Wisynco Group 13-8 and The Gleaner Company drubbed Lasco 19-4.

Gleaner blank Scotia in BH football

Former champions The Gleaner Company blanked defending champions Scotiabank Group 2-0 in the KSAFA/Western Sports Division I football competition in the feature match at Winchester Park, St George's College, on Wednesday.

Thanks to first-half goals from Donovan Alvaranga and Fabian Swaby in the 22nd and 44th minutes, Gleaner outplayed their opponents in the first half with Cavalier Super League players Alvaranga, Swaby and Locksley Thompson, along with Keiron Brock, taking control to lead 2-0 at half-time.

Scotiabank came into their own in the second half with key players Nicholas McCreath, Donovan Hibbert and Damion Gordon lifting their game, but McCreath, in particular, missed two clear chances in a one-and-one situation with Gleaner's custodian Everdeen Scarlett.

Gordon was involved in a collision with Thompson late in the second half and sustained a nasty cut above his right eye. He had to seek medical attention after the match, the wound requiring eight stitches.

In other Division I matches played recently, Scotiabank defeated Norman Manley International Airport 4-1 last Saturday at the Harbour Mini Stadium, thanks to a brace from Donovan Hibbert and one each from McCreath and Christopher Buchanan.

National Water Commission drubbed Jamaica National 4-0 with two goals from Trace McKenzie and one each from Patrick Edmundson and Paul Josephs.

In Division II action on Monday, Wisynco blanked Red Stripe 2-0 at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex. Garwain Brown and Anthony Blackwood were the scorers.

Meanwhile, the Scotiabank-sponsored KO competition commenced earlier this week with NWC steamrolling JUTC 9-1 at the NWC playing field on Thursday, with two goals each from Rollin Francis, Patrick Edmundson and Paul Josephs; Carib Cement beat Jamaica Fire 3-1 with goals from Twain Wynter, Fabian Nethersole and Alexi Dobson, while Courts drubbed National Land Agency 4-0 at Tinson Pen, thanks to goals from Jason Lescene, Kean Bruce, Anthony Burke and Jermaine Oakley. In another match, NHT clipped Red Stripe 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Glendon Johnson.

Dragon Spitfire skittles

The Dip from Portmore continued their unbeaten run in the Supreme Ventures/Dragon Spitfire seven-a-side skittles competition last Sunday when they clipped Mercury 4-3 in Spanish Town.

As a result, the The Dip have reeled off four consecutive wins to lead Zone 'A' with maximum 12 points.

The other Zone leaders are Eastern All Stars (Zone B), Mystix (Zone C) and Eagles (Zone D). Both Eagles and the recent Pattex Cup champions Eastern All-Stars are unbeaten in four matches, while Mystix from Hagley Park Road have lost one.

In other matches played last Sunday, Mister C got by Waltham 4-0, Starliner beat House of Peace, Willies Strikers beat Olympic Strikers 5-2, Mystix clipped Dragon 4-3 and Rowe's Strikers stopped home team Meadowvale.

The competition moves into its fifth round tomorrow. This will mark the final matches in the preliminary round, as teams will be vying for places in the quarter-finals.

The matches on are Eagles vs Meadowvale and Eastern All-Stars vs House of Peace, both at Bejon's Sports Bar, Hughenden Plaza; The Dip vs Mister C and Mercury vs Waltham, both at The Dip Skittles Club in Gregory Park, and Olympic Strikers vs Dragon and Mystix vs Willies, both in Olympic Gardens.

Power of Faith vs Faith Temple

Defending champions Power of Faith Seniors and Faith Temple New Testament renew their rivalry when they face off in the opening semi-final match in the Power of Faith Ministries Twenty/20 Church Cricket League at the Lime Tree Oval this morning at 9:35. Last year, PFM Seniors defeated Faith Temple in the final, so Faith Temple will have a point to prove.

In the second game at 1:30 p.m., Old Harbour New Testament challenge Braeton New Testament. Last Saturday, Faith Temple knocked out Power of Faith International with a six-wicket win, while Braeton overcame Jamaica Evangelistic Centre by five wickets. The teams are vying for the Dr Delford Davis trophy.

Portmore, Cumberland seek big wins

Portmore and Cumberland should continue their goalscoring spree when they take on Greater Portmore and Hellshire United, respectively, in the Senator Arthur Williams-sponsored Portmore Under-15 football league tomorrow at Ferdie Neita Park. Portmore United have scored 20 goals in their last two matches, including eight against Clifton last Sunday. Cumberland (10 points) have two big wins this season; they dismissed joint leaders Portmore United 4-0 and whipped Greater Portmore 6-0 in earlier games. In other games tomorrow, home team Watson Grove welcome Westport in the opening match at the Watson Grove field, while in the 3 p.m. feature, Passagefort clash with Clifton.

Clarke tops Likkle League awards

Kerrick Clarke, who scored two goals in the final which his team won 3-2 over Hazard Drive, was adjudged the most valuable player in the just concluded SDF-sponsored INSPORT Clarendon Likkle schools football competition.

The presentation of awards for the inaugural championship, which featured competition among the parish's basic schools for students five and under, was held recently with the winning trophy handed over by Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture Olivia Grange.

Alex Salmon, who netted 17 times in seven games, including one in the finals, was declared the leading goalscorer. Winning coach was Marsha Halstead.

Each participating school was given a special certificate while the following players were singled out for outstanding talent. Kacevry Edwards (Sevens Road); Tajae Campbell (Mineral Heights Missionary); Maxwell Peart (Wesleyan); Gerron Bailey (Race Track); Jhenae Ricketts (Rock Ministries); Kymani Williams (Paisley); and Amaru Humes (Mineral Heights Christian Kinder Prep).

Certificates of appreciation were also handed out to the following individuals: Uron Gordon, Devon Gordon and Jamalco, who hosted all the matches of the competition.

Porus U-15 league kicks off tomorrow

Manchester's longest-running youth development league - the Porus Under-15 league - begins tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at the Porus Community Centre.

The league, since its inauguration 15 years ago, has been chiefly sponsored by Western Union. Organiser Dave Barnett has confirmed a sponsorship tag of $850,000. The competition will run for four weeks and involves 10 teams. One of those teams, Central, which is based in May Pen, is all-female.

Defending champions Studds will play the opening match against Central with the opening whistle set for 3:30 p.m.

Preliminary play has been organised into two zones of five: Zone A comprises Connection, Settlement, Harmons, Studds, Central. Zone B has Tuff Gong, Rising Star, Genius, Broadleaf and Ebony Stars.

Cobbla Church league

The Cobbla Church league, sponsored by the New Testament Church of God, resumes this weekend after a one-week break.

Two matches will be played tomorrow at the Cobbla Youth Camp. In the first at 2 p.m., Zone A team Contrivance oppose Village, while the second at 4 p.m. features the clash between Zone B hopefuls West Road and Richmond.

With leaders Mile Gully, Church United and Roose United set to claim three of four second round places from Zone A, the match-up between Village and Contrivance could decide the fourth qualifier.

Zone B's four qualifiers have already been determined. Only the actual order in which they qualify now needs to be sorted out. West Road are on seven points, four more than Richmond.

Juici patties Clarendon netball league

The Juici Patties-sponsored Clarendon Senior and Junior leagues continue tomorrow at the Mineral Heights Sports Complex with third-round play, starting at 1:30 p.m.

Matches scheduled in the Senior category which has eight teams: Mico vs Optimist, Holmwood A vs B, Jamalco vs Hayes, and Windalco vs Denbigh A.

In the Junior division which has 10 teams: Denbigh B vs Fogo, Glenmuir vs Gravel Hall; Humble Lions vs McRebuilders, and Ricam vs Longsville, and Claremont vs Toll Gate.

In action from the previous round, Sashana Richards netted 38 from 46 attempts as Holmwood B rebounded from their season opening loss to Denbigh A to edge Optimist 46-45. Annakay Griffiths scored 28 as Windalco made it two from two, defeating Hayes 58-26. Elaine Davis fired in 30 from 36 tries as Jamalco, previous week's winner over Optimist, won 44-35 over Denbigh A.

Shauna Carradice bagged 35 as Mico University demolished Holmwood A 50-27.