In Your Neighbourhood
Published:Saturday | August 14, 2010 | 12:00 AM
- Bridge round-up
The bridge fraternity recently welcomed visiting United States player Joyce Currie to its ranks and, in her first full week of competitive bridge in Jamaica, she registered two top-three finishes - second in Monday's leg of the Horace Payne Memorial and third in Wednesday's leg of the David Levy.
On Monday night, ladies occupied the first two places as Lynette James and Carmen Levy (61.11 per cent) were easy winners from Joyce Currie and Valerie Marshall (53.97 per cent). Third, with 53.17 per cent, were Herbert Gauntlett and Maurice Clarke.
On Wednesday, Gauntlett also registered his second top-three finish of the week, this time teaming with former racehorse trainer Lynford Tai Hue to post 61.31 per cent for a comfortable win. Second was Michael Coore and Wayne Chai Chong (54.76 per cent) with Joyce Currie/Valerie Marshall (54.17 per cent) third.
- Sagicor beat Digicel in BH KO cricket
Sagicor defeated Digicel by 85 runs in a first-round Best Dressed Chicken Business House 30-over KO cricket match at Kensington Park last Sunday.
Batting first, Sagicor scored 175 for five off their allotted 30 overs. Kemar Marshall made 49 and A. Wadsworth 53; Marvin Thompson and R. Johnson took two wickets each.
Digicel surprisingly crumbled to 86 all out from 24 overs - Lloyd Gold 17, Devon Williams 14, Herbert Garriques 3-30, Sanjay McLean and D. Ewart two wickets each.
In the only other match played last Sunday, Continental Baking Company crushed NHT by 196 runs in a Reggae Jammin 50-over match at The Mico University College. Neither team was able to make it to the semi-finals, hence this match was of academic interest only.
Continental Baking Company raced to 240 for seven off their 50 overs - Vander Rowe 63, Roland Henry 40, Ronville Brown 38; Atley Brown and Quincy McKinson taking two wickets each. In reply, NHT were bungled out for only 44 off 16.3 overs - Shacoya Thomas 20, McKinson 18; Rowe 4-23, Ramon Senior 3-0 off three overs.
- Stewart wins Mystix'B' class pool tourney
Hugh Stewart from Hot Shots defeated Lincoln 'Mandrake' Clarke 4-2 in the best of seven final to win the Mystix Sports Bar 'B' class eight-ball pool tournament last weekend at Mystix, 78 3/4 Hagley Park Road.
For his efforts, Stewart won $25,000 and a trophy from the tournament's organiser Rohan McDonald, while Clarke picked up $12,500 for second.
In the play-off for third place between the losing semi-finalists, Fernando Ruiz, who had earlier lost to Clarke, clipped Shavaun Edwards 3-2 to secure the $5,000 third prize, while Edwards received $2,500 for fourth.
A total of 38 players contested the two-day tournament, which was confined exclusively to 'B' class players, in effect ruling out the top players in the country. By virtue of having won this tournament, Stewart has been promoted to 'A' class.
Nicky Lawrence, president of the Jamaica Billiards Association and one of the island's top female players, received a trophy for being the Best Female Player, having made it to the third round.
Meanwhile, entry forms for the upcoming Real Vibes Party Wine and Cals Spring Water eight-ball tour, which offers lucrative prizes in seven major tournaments across the island, beginning at Hot Shots on August 28, are available at Hot Shots, 103 Constant Spring Road.
- Dragon Spitfire skittles final tomorrow
Mystix and The Dip will contest the Supreme Ventures/Dragon Spitfire/The Dip seven-a-side skittles final tomorrow at The Dip in Gregory Park starting at 1 p.m.
Last Sunday, The Dip, who are unbeaten in the competition, defeated Rowe's Strikers in the quarter-finals and, later that afternoon, clipped the previously unbeaten favourites Eagles 4-3 in the second semi-final to advance.
Mystix, from 78 3/4 Hagley Park Road, edged Dragon 4-3 in the first semi-final to secure their place in the final. Mystix had earlier beaten Starliner 4-3 in the quarter finals.
The winning team will receive $60,000; second, $40,000; third, $20,000; and fourth, $10,000.
The two top-rated teams in the country, Eastern All-Stars and Eagles, have both failed to reach the final. Eastern All-Stars, the reigning Pattex Cup champions, were knocked out by Dragon in the quarter-finals, while Eagles fell to The Dip in the semis.
- Wisynco clip Carib Cement 1-0
Giant-killers Wisynco advanced to the semi-finals of the KSAFA/Scotiabank-sponsored Business House KO football competition on Thursday when they clipped defending champions Carib Cement 1-0 at Bull Pen in St Thomas.
Wisynco, who are unbeaten in both the KO competition and the league (Division II), got the winner late in the match when Dwayne Brown netted in the 80th minute. Wisynco will meet dethroned Division I champions Scotiabank in one semi-final at the NWC playing field in Mona on Saturday, August 21.
Scotiabank defeated Courts 5-3 in quarter-final action last Saturday, thanks to four goals from Nicholas McCreath. The other semi-final encounter next Saturday will see Wray & Nephew up against JNBS at Wray & Nephew.
Wray & Nephew clipped highly touted The Gleaner 3-2 in quarter-final action in a home match at Spanish Town Road last Saturday, thanks to first-half goals from Glen Simms and Caetaneo Rainford to lead 2-0 at half time. Gleaner, however, fought back strongly to level the scores, courtesy of a brace from Kenrick Picknight in the second half, but Ricardo Robinson found the winner for Wray & Nephew in the 81st minute.
In the other quarter-final match played last Saturday, JNBS defeated NHT 3-1 at Jesse Ripoll with goals from Kimari Williams, Jair Minott and Lauren Riley.
- Mico stop Windalco in Clarendon netball
Shauna Carradice netted 50 hoops from 57 attempts to spur The Mico University College team to a 55-33 win over Windalco in the Juici-Patties-sponsored Clarendon Senior and Junior Netball League in last weekend's fifth round at the Mineral Heights Sports Centre. This game was the season's first major clash featuring top-ranked teams.
Mico remain unbeaten, with four wins from as many games, and with a game in hand against Hayes. Champions Jamalco, however, lead the competition, collecting their fifth-straight win, taking the youthful Holmwood High School B team 69-25.
Former National player Marsha Murphy sank the most points by an individual player so far this season with a whopping 60 from 64 attempts in guiding Jamalco to their fifth straight win.
Holmwood A also won edging Hayes 36-31, while Denbigh High A were awarded full points for their unplayed game against Optimist.
In the Junior division, Longsville remained the only unbeaten team, collecting their fifth victory in a 40-11 win over Gravel Hill. Ricam of Manchester stayed in second position overall, outlasting Claremount 30-24. Glenmuir High mauled Fogo 25-3 and Tollgate edged Humble Lions 21-15. The McRebuilders-Denbigh B clash was postponed.
Matches slated for this weekend: Senior League: (Mico vs Holmwood B, Optimist vs Holmwood A, Hayes vs Denbigh and Jamalco vs Windalco in the feature at 5 p.m.).
Junior division: Longsville vs Denbigh B, Humble Lions vs Claremount, Glenmuir vs McRebuilders, Ricam vs Fogo and Tollgate vs Gravel Hill.
- Champions exit Porus Under 15
New champions will be crowned in the Western Union-sponsored Porus Under-15 League after the defending champions, Studds, were prevented from reaching the second round on a technicality.
Studds have won two games so far and, although having a game in hand, they will not make it to the second round as their absence from the opening ceremony prevented them, according to competition rules, from collecting a bonus three points. This means that Settlement and Harmons, who already have 10 points, including three gained from attending the opening dress parade, will make the cut from Zone A to the second round.
Competition remains keen for the teams trying to book the two available spots to the second round. Three teams - Tuff Gong, Broadleaf and Ebony Stars of Clarendon - are locked on 10 points with one round remaining. However, tomorrow's round of matches slated for the Porus Community Center will decide the two qualifiers.
Harmons will tackle ousted champions Studds at 2 p.m., while Tuff Gong tackle Broadleaf. In the feature game of the afternoon, Rising Star, who are on seven points, can get back in contention with victory over Ebony Stars, who only need a draw to advance.
In two matches played on Wednesday, Broadleaf stopped Chillzone 3-0 while Tuff Gong and Ebony Stars battled to an exciting 0-0 draw.
- Mack Rebuilders top rally
Mack Rebuilders clipped Transport Services 1-0 last weekend as the Tait's Pharmacy-sponsored Clarendon Business House six-a-side football competition kicked off with a one-day rally last weekend at the Mineral Heights Football field. All 16 teams participated in knockout format.
League action will begin tomorrow starting at 7 a.m.
Games on at 7 a.m: Carryshell vs Stewarts, JPS vs Mack Chem, Courts vs Epic Industries and JNBS vs Youngs Pharmacy (defending champions).
Matches slated for 8 a.m: Juici-Patties vs Sinclair's Bargain Centre, Transport Agencies vs May Pen Hospital and Studio (Artistes) vs May Pen Fire Brigade.
- Juventus, Napoli, Top Hill advance
Juventus jumped to the top of the standings in Zone B of the Jamalco Football League after registering a 9-0 win over South Manchester to highlight last weekend's round.
Juventus are on eight points, leap-frogging the duo of Savannah and Wembley, who are both locked on seven. The lead also changed hands in Zone 3 after Napoli defeated Port 2-0. Napoli were lifted to nine points, leaving behind Mineral Heights (8) and Invincible (7).
Top Hill created the biggest impact, however, after upstaging Bottom Halse Hall 2-1 in their top-of-Zone A clash. Both teams are on nine points, but Bottom Halse Hall have the better goal difference.
Today's games: Invincible tackle Napoli at 2 p.m., Juventus take on Raymonds at 4 p.m.
Tomorrow: Defending champions Sunset are in action against Mocho at 2 p.m. All games will be played at the Wembley field.
- Wray and Nephew Portmore cricket
The 2010 season of the Wray and Nephew-sponsored Portmore Cricket League will begin tomorrow morning with four matches.
In Group B, defending champions Colours International take on newcomers Bridgeview at the Hamilton Gardens ground while Portsmouth clash with Portmore Pines at the Portsmouth ground.
In Group A, former champions Ken's Wildflower oppose Belmont at the Bridgeport Sports ground and Reid's Pen and Washington CC face off at Lime Tree Oval. All games begin at 11 a.m.
The teams will be vying for the Tony Becca Cup, named in honour of the veteran cricket writer. The organisers are requesting that all the participating teams be at the Bridgeport venue for the opening ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m.
- Portmore on mission to repeat
Defending champions Portmore United are on course to again top the Pines Imaging Centre-sponsored Portmore Under-17 Football League after they chalked up two victories in a row this week.
Portmore, the runaway leaders in Zone A on 18 points, whipped Watson Grove 5-0 on Tuesday, before collecting three easy points due to Passagefort United's no-show on Thursday.
Waterford put themselves into a good position on 11 points when they drew 1-1 with Daytona on Thursday to go with their big 2-0 win over Passagefort on Tuesday.
Passagefort are third with nine points, and East Portmore Portals are fourth on eight points.
In Zone B, Wanderers (17 points) battle Portsmouth (16 points) and Westport (16 points), for group honours. Wanderers, after two straight dismal 0-0 draws, got things right on Thursday with a huge 5-0 win over former champs Rodwood. Rodwood dropped down the tables to fourth after their recent loss. The competition continues tomorrow.
CAPTION - Patrick Hylton (second right), group managing director of National Commercial Bank (NCB), is fascinated by the match ball from the Cassava Under-15 football league. The ball bore the signatures of the members of the winning team and was presented to him when members of the Phoenix Summer football camp made a courtesy call at the NCB headquarters. Also in the photograph (from left) are Kevon Atkinson, who is sponsored by the NCB Foundation; Leon Bailey, Stephanie Anderson, public relations officer of Phoenix All Stars Academy; Kyle Butler and Craig Butler, president of Phoenix All Stars Academy. - Contributed