IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

• Chelsea Strikers are pool champs

Chelsea Strikers, captained by newly crowned national champion Calhoun Melville, defeated Upper Level from Mandeville 3-2 in the final to win the inaugural Wray & Nephew White Overproof five-a-side all-island pool tournament last Saturday night at Hot Shots Pool Bar, 103 Constant Spring Road.

The New Kingston-based Chelsea beat Mystic Knights 3-1 in the quarter-finals, then clipped preseason favourites MoBay Proper 'A' 3-2 in a thriller, which saw Jordon Holman whipping the previously unbeaten Jason Gentles from MoBay Proper 'A' 3-0 in the last game, to advance to the final.

Upper Level, meanwhile, defeated MoBay's Kendan 3-1 in the quarter-finals and also MoBay Proper 'B' 3-2 in the semis to advance to the final.

For their efforts, Chelsea Strikers secured the whopping $250,000 prize and championship trophy, while Upper Level, who came from behind twice to tie the score at 2-2 going into the final game, picked up $100,000.

MoBay Proper 'A', captained by former No. 1 ranked player Noel 'Schoolboy' Blagrove, clipped their 'B' team 3-2 in the play-off for third, securing $50,000, while MoBay Proper 'B' received $20,000 for fourth.

Dominic Beckford, brand and sales manager, Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, presented the championship trophy to Melville and medals to the captain and his teammates.

The tournament was organised by the Jamaica Billiards Association and attracted 26 teams from across the island.

• Melville wins national pool championships

Calhoun Melville from Chelsea Sports Bar in New Kingston won the Jamaica Billiards Association/Just Bet-sponsored National Pool Championships at Hot Shots Pool Bar, 103 Constant Spring Road, on Sunday.

He defeated a former No. 1 ranked player Ewart Hall of Hot Shots 6-5 in a hard-fought best-of-11 final to capture the $90,000 prize and championship trophy, with Hall securing $40,000.

The championships attracted the top-ranking 30 players islandwide, based on their performances in the Cal's Pool Tour, comprising seven tournaments from August 2010 to February 2011.

Upper Level's Chris Sinclair, who was beaten by Hall 4-2 in one semi-final, won the third-place play-off 3-0 against Portmore's Andrew Wilson, who lost his semis 4-0 to Melville.

Sinclair secured $20,000 for third, Wilson $8,000, while players finishing from fifth to eighth (Courtney Parrish, female player Lenore Donovan, Ainsworth Palmer and Anthony 'Balkey' Davis) each received $3,000.

"It was a great weekend," declared Melville, "All the hard work in fine-tuning my game has paid off and I am now the No. 1 ranked player in the island. That's been my objective and I will not rest on my laurels but continue to practise and win as many tournaments as I can," said the 29-year-old Melville, who less than 24 hours earlier led Chelsea Strikers to the all-island team championships.

• Eagles, Starliner in skittles semis

Defending champions Eagles qualified for the semi-finals of the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum skittles competition last Sunday when they crushed long-time leaders Starliner 10-1 at Mister C Skittles Club, Spanish Town.

Eagles now join Starliner as the two semi-finalists from the elite zone (A ), both with 16 points, ahead of former champions Eastern All-Stars, who also whipped Dragon 10-1 at Waltham Strikers.

Mister C kept their hopes alive with a 10-1 win over leaders Willies Strikers in Zone 'B', while home team Waltham clipped Mystix 6-5.

In other matches at Mercury Skittles Club in Spanish Town, Mystix Lady Strikers pipped Mercury 6-5 to be bang in contention for a top-two spot, while Olympic beat Portmore's Hangover 6-3.

As things now stand in Zone 'B', Willies Strikers, Lady Strikers and Mister C are vying for the two semi-final spots. This will be decided tomorrow when Lady Strikers oppose Mister C, and Willies take on lowly placed Olympic Strikers at Dragon, Giltress in Rollington Town. Dragon will facilitate the other scheduled matches in a Super Sunday promotion.

• Miller slams BH century for LIME

National player Horace Miller with an unbeaten 101 spearheaded LIME to a five-wicket victory over NWC in a seventh-round Reggae Jammin Business House 50-over match at Mona last Sunday.

Batting first, NWC made 173 for 9 off their 50 overs - Chris Senior 75, Fabian Forbes 31; Fitzroy Peterkin 3-43, Dave Johnson 2-24.

LIME 180 for 5 off 28.5 overs, Miller coming in early at number three and quickly taking control of the proceedings with an attacking, unbeaten century, laced with 13 fours. Ryan Francis chipped in with 34 as Senior claimed 3-26 and Oneil Wright 2-27.

Meanwhile, in a 35-over Business House KO match played at Jamalco last Sunday, Jamalco 140-3 (Errol Tomas 41 not out, Maurice Kepple 36 not out) defeated National Contintenal Baking Company 139 all out (Richard McIntosh 48, Samalie Brown; Thomas 3-37, Tino Osbourne 3-35) by seven wickets.

AT MICO: National Housing Trust defeated Red Stripe by five wickets. Red Stripe 155 - Wayne Cuff 65, Junior Ricketts 31; Quennne McKinson 3-7, Herman Henry 2-4. NHT 156 for 5 in 28.4 overs - Erron Downer 33, Antoine Stephenson 28, Shacoya Thomas 27; Richard Allen 3-40.

Tomorrow's matches will see Sagicor up against JUTC at Chalmers Avenue in a rescheduled Reggae Jammin 50-over match, while NWC take on Jamalco at Mona and Digicel vs Jamaica Broilers in the two semi-final matches of the BH 35-over KO.

• NWC move into BH Division I semi-finals

National Water Commission (NWC) qualified for the semi-finals of the KSAFA/Western Sports Division I Business House football competition with two high-profile wins in the past week.

Last Saturday, NWC clipped defending champions Petrojam 1-0, thanks to a fourth-minute goal from Arnett Gardens Premier League player James Durrant combined with brilliant goalkeeping from teammate Kirk Porter, who also represents Arnett Gardens.

Then on Tuesday, Durrant was it again, scoring in the 77th minute to give NWC at 1-0 win over former champions Carib Cement at Bull Pen to finish on 16 points, second to the unbeaten leaders Wisynco, who were held to a 1-1 draw by The Gleaner on Tuesday at Winchester Park.

Keiron Brock sent The Gleaner ahead in the 12th minute when netting from a Fabian Swaby cross. But Wisynco gained the equaliser in time added on (92nd minute) with a late strike from Calbert Coke.

The Division I points standings show Wisynco on top with 18, NWC on 16, followed by Petrojam 14 (all having completed their fixtures), Cement on 12 with a match against NWIA in hand, Scotibank and The Gleaner on 10, but with the latter having two matches in hand, one against Scotiabank. No matches are scheduled today.

• Seprod are BH KO domino champs

Seprod won the Business House domino KO final on Friday, July 22, when they defeated Jamaica Brandy 67-58 in the final at Jacisera Park.

Seprod, captained by Shawn Hinds, are on course for the double, as they have made it to the quarter-finals of the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum League. Other quarter finalists are The Gleaner, Jamaica Brandy, Wray & Nephew, Berger, National Baking Company, JUTC and defending champions SDC.

The qualifiers in Division II are Jamaica Wharves, UWI, Courts, NCB, Tastee, NHT, JPS and Pepsi.

• Colours, Portsmouth aim at Christine Cummings cup

Favourites Colours International and Portsmouth will take aim at the Christine Cummings Cup in the final of the Milo-sponsored Portmore Metropolitan U-15 Cricket League on Sunday, August 7, at the Bridgeport sports ground, match time 11 a.m.

In semi-final action last Sunday, Colours International dispatched Reid's Pen by 87 runs at the Portsmouth ground. Scores: Colours 199-6, 35 overs, Ramone Francis, 43; Shaquille Brown 36, Ralston Chambers 34; Marco Grandston 2-48. Reid's Pen 112 all out, 32.1 overs, Junior Tapper, 19; Courtney Dowdie 17; Francis, 3-15, Travette Williams, 2-14, Brown 2-15.

In another match, Portsmouth beat last year's champs Ken's Wildflower at the Bridgeport ground by five wickets. Scores: Ken's 173-5, Jemarie Harrie 66 not out; Trevor Johnson and Kirk McKenzie a wicket apiece for Portsmouth. Portsmouth 174-5, Javian McFarlane, 42 not out, Oshane Wright 40. Andre Fowler and Javel Glen, took a wicket each for Ken's Wildflower.

• Windalco rebound in Clarendon Senior Netball League

Windalco rebounded from last week's crushing final-minute 46-45 loss to rivals Jamalco with a crushing 60-24 win over Longville Park as the second round of the Juici Patties Clarendon Senior Netball League got under way at Mineral Heights Sports Complex last weekend.

The big win pushed Windalco to 12 points, the same as Jamalco, who have netted less overall hoops. Jamalco also recorded a victory on the day - easily outscoring last season's rural high school champions, Denbigh High A, 46-25.

The loss for Longville Park was their fifth. They are experiencing a rough transition to the senior league, having won the junior league last year. Competition in round two continues tomorrow with two matches: At 3:30 p.m., Denbigh entertain Windalco while at 4:40 Longville Park take on third-place Turbo United (9 pts).

In the junior round, it was a similar case of rebound for guest team from Mandeville - Ricam Strikers, who shrugged off last week's 24-20 loss to unbeaten Hayes All Stars by swamping Glenmuir B 49-4. Eight games are on tomorrow to complete the preliminary round, and to select teams for the quarter-final stage.

• Spring Ground advance in Cobbla Church League

Spring Ground joined defending champions George North as the only confirmed teams in the second round of the New Testament Church of God Cobbla Church Football League.

Last weekend, Andrew Green scored the lone goal to give Spring Ground a 1-0 win over Lazio Strikers. Spring Ground now top Zone Two on 10 points. Nearest challengers are Napoli (6) and Church United (5). Napoli rose to second after being handed points when Richmond failed to show last weekend.

Also last weekend, George North, who defeated Clandon Strikers 2-1, completed their preliminary round unbeaten, with 13 points from five games. It is still uncertain at this stage who will join them in the second round as Roose Madrid are way behind on six points, one more than the pair of Christiana Strikers and Mile Gully.

Tomorrow's games: Lazio vs West Road at 2 p.m; and Christiana vs Gully Strikers.

• Lloyd Plummer Memorial League

West Park defeated Galaxy 4-2 in the latest match to be played in the Institute of Sports-sponsored Lloyd Plummer Memorial football league being hosted at the West Park Community field in May Pen, Clarendon.

The competition is played in honour of Lloyd Plummer, the former Clarendon FA president, community liaison officer and youth football enthusiast who passed away a few years ago.

West Park now join Race Track - the team they lost to in the opening round, on four points in Zone Two. Galaxy have one point.

In last weekend's feature game, National Premier League striker Roberto Fletcher scored a hat-trick to lead Treadlight to a 3-1 win over Cemetery Road. Treadlight join Bushy Park and Streetside on three points in Zone One.

In the earlier game, Race Track easily blanked New Roadsville 3-0, courtesy of a double strike by Leon Watkis.

The competition continues tomorrow with a double-header at West Park.

• Jamalco Football League

The early points standings indicate close going in the 2011 season of the Jamalco-sponsored summer football league.

A three-way tie on three points exists in Zone One involving Mocho, defending champions New Bowens and Napoli. In Zone Two, the case is the same for Top Hill and Raymonds. In Zone Three, Juventus and Port are also locked on three points.

In last weekend's round of matches, Mocho got their season under way with a 3-0 win over South Manchester. Everette Lee's 13th-minute strike gave Napoli a 1-0 win over Mineral Heights. Similarly, Marvin Swack scored the lone goal in Ports 1-0 away win over Top Halse Hall.

Raymonds were gifted three points and a three-goal advantage after Railroad failed to show.

The competition continues today with four games: New Bowens vs South Manchester; Bottom Halse Hall vs Top Halse Hall; Mandela vs Railroad; and Hunsts Pen vs Raymonds.

• Western Union/Porus U-15 League

Defending champions of the Western Union/Porus Under-15 League, Tuff Gong, began the 2011 season on a winning note, beating new entrants John Bosco Boys 4-1.

However, it was the former three-time champions Studds who made the biggest impression in last weekend's kick-off at the Porus Community Centre, with a 10-0 win over Chill Zone. Settlement recorded a 1-0 win over neighbours Broadleaf in the third opening encounter.

Tuff Gong will again be in action this weekend when they face Connection at 3:30 p.m. Earlier at 2 p.m. when the triple-header kicks off, Young Diamonds entertain Broadleaf, while in the final game slated for 5 p.m., John Bosco meet Berrydale.

Three games will also be hosted at Porus on Wednesday: Harmons vs Broadleaf at 2 p.m.; Settlement vs Studds at 3:30 p.m; and Tuff Gong vs Berrydale at 5 p.m.

CAPTION: Winners of the low goal section of the annual Hi-Pro & ICWI Family Polo Tournament - the ICWI (Wates) team. From left: Pieter Barrow, Hamish Wates (MVP), Paul Lalor and Ricky Wates. This tournament has been played for nearly 30 years and is supported by two of the most stalwart sponsors of polo in Jamaica, Hi-Pro Feeds and ICWI. This year saw a record entry of nine teams, but injuries and illness meant that many of them had to be reorganised, and eight teams from across the island actually took part. Fittingly, two of the most dominating (in both size and ability) families faced off against each other in the final, which pitted the Hi-Pro Chins against the ICWI Wates. - Contributed