IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Pattex Cup skittes presentation dinner

The curtain came down on the 2010-2011 Henkel-sponsored skittles season on Wednesday night with the awards presentation dinner at Mystix Sports Club, 78³/⁴ Hagley Park Road.

The large crowd in attendance witnessed Mystix's captain Cleveland Murray accepting the championship trophy (Pattex Cup) and cheque for $60,000 from Brian Smith, a former executive member of the JAAA and chairman and founder of the Douglas Forrest Invitational Track Meet.

Also in the spotlight were Eagles' Robert 'Worldman' McKen, winner of the Sistas singles championship, and Marsha Newsome from Starliner, who won the ladies' singles title.

Significantly, McKen won his sixth singles title, the first coming way back in 1987.

Other awards went to Eastern All-Stars' Fitzroy 'Paul' Blair, runner-up in the Sistas singles championship, and teammate Keita 'Bibi' Stephens, who placed third. Both received trophies and cash prizes.

On the women's side, Eastern's Charlene Phoenix, who was beaten by Newsome in the singles final, was on hand to receive her trophy and cash incentive, as was third-place Pauline Barrett from Eagles Skittles Club.

The Jamaica Skittles Federation also used the opportunity to honour persons who have made a significant contribution to the sport over the years. Heading the list was the ailing Alfred Rowe, founder of Rowe's Strikers Skittles Club; noted player Fred 'Bushman' Marsh from Eagles, skittles association executive, player and referee Sonia Lindo, outstanding veteran Ernel Brown, who is still active in the game for Eagles Skittles Club, as well as Eagles' Horace Wallace, former singles champion Ruthlyn Bailey, Rowe's player Durant Davis, and outstanding contributor Adrian Dixon, who donated a divan bed to a lucky patron, David Moulton from Mercury.

The Crimson Dawn Trophy for the most improved team went to Olympic Strikers from 194A Bay Farm Road, while Iona Anderson from Olympic won a trophy (donated by Fitzroy Blair) for the highest opening break; Emmanuel Munda the highest score, Eagles' Cheryl Donaldson the MVP award, and Mister C's Neville Elliston the MVP among the men.

Guest speaker was Brian Smith, while Henkel's Kingsley Morris gave the sponsors' remarks, Steve Daley the presidential address, and former president Jacinth 'Gigi' Kellier moved the vote of thanks.

The 2011 J. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Skittles competition will be launched tomorrow at Mystix, starting at 4 p.m.

The Jamaica Domino Council Association, under the banner of its International Committee of Domino based in New York, will be playing a select team in Westmoreland in an effort to recruit players for trials to the Jamaica national team.

The matches will be played at Club Harmony in Grange Hill starting at 1 p.m. This is one of several islandwide trials that the JDCA has embarked on to develop the sport to its full potential.

The third round of the 2011 season of the South Central Confed Super League resumes this weekend with a full slate of matches.

Overall leaders and defending champions Meadows of St Catherine play away to parish mates tomorrow, second-place Rivoli also play away to New Bowens of Clarendon today, while third-place Monymusk and Downs will contest the feature match of the round in Manchester tomorrow.

The rest of the schedule reads: Mile Gully vs De la Vega and Newell vs Naggo Head (today); and Bodles vs Newland tomorrow.

Last week, the senior competition took a seven-day break to facilitate the start of the Under-20 competition. The competition is in its third year and is usually played as curtain-raisers to the regular Super League matches involving the same 12 teams. Only three were played last weekend. From those games, Monymusk spanked Downs 3-0, Meadows and Tru-Juice battled to a 1-1 draw while Rivoli and New Bowens also ended 1-1.

Under-20 matches will precede Super League games, except for those teams involved in last weekend's three matches.

Despite being beaten by Spartan Athletic in the mid-season final, Gimme-Me-Bit (25 pts) are still leaders of the Claro/Captain's Bakery Clarendon Major League.

Gimme-Me-Bit subsequently laboured to a 0-0 draw against seventh-place Longwood but they were handed much-needed breathing space when Woodhall created a major upset in handing Spartan a 1-0 defeat. That win immediately pushed Woodhall to joint second with Spartan on 20 points, albeit with an inferior goal difference. The rest of the pack is seven points back with three teams - York Town, Milk River and Original Hazard - stacked on 13 points.

The league continues today with three matches, including a double-header to be hosted at Gayle FC. At 1 p.m., Longwood take on Spartan, and in the feature at 3 p.m., the homeside entertain Woodhall. Milk River tackle Original Hazard in the other game to be played at Pathside.

Hillstars were promoted to mid-season champions after the competitions committee of the Manchester Football Association ruled last week that New Green had used an ineligible player.

New Green had beaten Hillstars 2-1 to take The Captain's Bakery-sponsored Manchester Major League mid-season final played at Brook's Park. However, Milton Christopher, who scored the final goal of that game which gave New Green a 2-1 lead in the 89th minute, should not have played in that game, according to FA rules. Quite interestingly, Christopher was sent off shortly after scoring that goal for a second bookable offence.

Hillstars have since moved to the top of the standings on goal difference over New Green, following a 3-2 win over Comfort. Kingsley Townsend (18th), Andre Morrison (60th) and Junior Baker scored for Hillstars, while Kirk Porter (25th) and Christopher Richards (28th) netted for the losers.

In other post-mid-season final results, New Green and Porus battled to a 0-0 draw, Georges Valley sank Star Liner 2-0 to move to fourth on 14 points, while Young Diamonds continued Mandeville United's agony with a 3-1 win. Mandeville United are almost sure to be relegated after losing all nine games contested since the start of the season.

The revamped Power Services Company Limited (PSCL)-sponsored Manchester Division Two competition has yielded high-scoring results in the first round. It is sponsored to the tune of $700,000 with the winner expected to pocket $50,000 as well as secure a spot in next season's Major League.

Hopewell recorded a 4-0 thumping of Clandon Strikers in the official season kick-off at Brook's Park. Marlon Folkes scored twice, with his brother Basil and Akeem Taylor adding the others. Grey Ground have since followed suit, hammering Harmons 5-0, with Richard Larmond leading the way with the first hat-trick of the season.

In other subsequent results, Gully Strikers of Cobbla defeated Lynhurst 2-1, Fairfield got the better of Tri Star 2-1, while Old England and DC Strikers ended 1-1.

Mid-season champions Black River booked the final semi-final spot in the J. Wray and Nephew-sponsored St Elizabeth Major league, following a resounding 4-0 win over New Holland last weekend.

They join leaders Super Action (38 pts), Appleton and Tafari Lions, who were already assured of places from the previous week.

Black River moved to 29 points and third overall with goals from Ryan Smith (12th), Davian Ash (16th), Rohan Blackwood (30th) and Andrew Shakespeare (88th). Mountainside, who were in the running for the fourth semi-final spot, were beaten by 1-0 by Burnt Ground.

In other results, Super Action sealed the top qualifying spot with a 4-1 win over relegation-bound Parottee, Tafari Lions outran Treasure Beach 3-0, while Braes River blanked Young Brazil 3-0. The Appleton-Vineyard game was not played.

Powerful battle

Former champs Power of Faith (PFM) International and newcomers Power and Light (P&L) Ministries are geared up for a key battle in the third week of the Power of Faith Ministries Twenty20 Church Cricket League this afternoon at Lime Tree Oval in St Catherine, match time 1:30. Both teams are coming off wins in their first encounters. PFM International whipped Gregory Park by 133 runs while P&L Ministries beat Miracle Open Bible by eight runs.

In the opening game at the venue, Old Harbour New Testament will get a stern test from veteran side Seniors, a select over-40 team. Match time is 9:30 a.m.

Mid-season champions Watson Grove and Westport will clash for the third time this season, as they have an important LIME Portmore Division Two League match at the Passagefort field tomorrow, match time 3 p.m.

Head-to-head, the teams have one win apiece. The last time the two met, Watson Grove won 2-1 to lift the mid-season title, while Westport won their first meeting 2-1.

The winners of this match will be at the top of standings. In other games, third-place East Portmore Portals and Queen's Park play each other in the opening game of the double-header at Ferdie Neita Park at 1 p.m. In the second game at the venue, Braeton United take on Daytona at 3 p.m.

Leaders Frazer's Whip pounded demotion-bound and last-place Invaders 9-0 in a LIME St Catherine FA Division One league last Sunday.

Ace striker Alton Brown scored four times, in the 43rd, 64th, 75th and 88th minutes. Jevaune Benjamin netted a brace (34th, 58th), while Dwaine Gordon (67th) Jamoy Sibbles (77th) and Lafiana Sterling (83rd) completed the rout as Frazer's Whip moved to 34 points.

Portmore side Christian Pen ended their fixture with 27 points after they dented Upfront United semi-final chances with a 2-1 win, with Devon Wilson scoring both goals. In other games, Racing United drew 1-1 with third-place Threadways (26 points), and Waterford and Travellers drew 0-0.

The Portmore Lane Covenant Community Church will be hosting its third annual Six-A-Side Community Football Competition this morning on its premises at 16 Portmore Lane in Portmore Gardens. The action begins at 9:30.

According to chief organiser, Byron Bennett, "The competition is aimed at providing a healthy recreational alternative, particularly for the young men of Portmore Gardens, Newlands and Waterford." Bennett noted that most of the targeted youths are from inner-city/depressed communities in Portmore and this is a means of reaching them.

He added: "We hope to have eight participating teams, as we have had in the past. We are convinced that unless these young men are engaged in positive, wholesome activities then they are likely to continue in the destructive, criminal heritage of their predecessors." Companies such as DigiPoint, MegaMart and Best Dressed Foods are already on board.

"Basically, this is the third year of organising this competition, this is just to let them (the youths) feel recognised and valued," Sharon Knight, public relations officer of the league, said.

Colours Sports Bar will tomorrow host a pairs domino knockout competition at their location, Port Henderson Plaza, starting at noon. Registration begins at 11 a.m., and entry is $1,000 per pair. The winning pair will pocket $20,000, second place will receive $10,000 and third place gets $5,000. The competition over the years has attracted some of the best players in Portmore and surrounding communities. The event is sanctioned by the Jamaica Domino Federation.