Crystal, Twelve Stars on show today
Published:Saturday | August 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Western Bureau: Champions Crystal, the runaway leaders in Zone 'A', and Twelve Stars, the Zone 'B' front-runners, will be aiming to keep their unbeaten records intact when they both feature in today's big 2011 Hunger Busta/Impact Auto St James Netball Association (StJNA) Senior League double-header at the Montego Bay Boys Club Courts.
Crystal, who have an unassailable 21 points in Zone A and are already assured of qualifying for the competition's semi-final as a group winner, will meet the little-fancied Angels 'B' in the 3 p.m. curtain-raiser, while in the second game at 5 p.m. Twelve Stars, who are also assured of a semi-final place, will battle Pacers 'A'.
"While Crystal and Twelve Stars are assured of their semi-final places, the other two places are still up for grabs as a number of teams are still in with good chances," said Winsome Barnes, the StJNA information officer. "As things are, Twelve Stars could be overtaken for Zone B honours by Angels 'A'."
The full point standings going into this weekend's games read as follow: Zone A - Crystal - 21, Blazers - 13, Pacers Juvenile - 7, Angels 'B' - 6; and Starlight Juniors - 3. Zone B - Twelve Stars - 16, Angels 'A' - 12, Sting - 10, Pacers 'A' - 6 and Starlight - 6.
In Zone A, Crystal, Blazers, Starlight Juniors and Angels 'B' have one outstanding game each, while Pacers Juvenile have two outstanding games. In Zone B, Twelve Stars and Sting both have one outstanding game while Angels 'A', Pacers 'A' and Starlight all have two outstanding games.
In last weekend's round of matches, the Crystal team, which has already won the competition's Open Rally and Mid-Season titles, continued to advertise themselves as the team to beat with their seventh consecutive win in Zone A, trouncing Blazers 36-24.
Twelve Stars, Crystal's main rivals for the championship, also made it seven consecutive wins in Zone B, blunting the challenge of Sting by a 31-27 margin to keep themselves on course to win the group.
In their game against Blazers, Crystal were surprisingly held to 6-6 tie in the first quarter. However, they changed gear to win the second quarter 7-2, Blazers took the third quarter 8-5 but Crystal again took charge in the final quarter, which they took 18-8.
game-high 24 goals
Ladonna Lamonth was the outstanding player for Crystal, getting a game-high 24 goals. Amalya Stewart and Carla-Lee Tinglin each got six goals. Monique Bingham and Shadian Hemmings, with 16 and 13 goals, were the top performers for Blazers.
In their game against Sting, Twelve Stars won the first quarter 12-6 and the second ended 6-6. Sting won the third 12-10 while the final quarter ended 3-3. Crystal-Lee Carter and Jodie McIntosh were on target for Twelve Stars, scoring 16 and 15 goals, respectively. Wendy and Stacey Shakespear, with 16 and 11, sparkled in Sting's losing effort.
In another game last weekend, Angels 'A' kept their bid to win Zone B intact with a good 36-30 win over Pacers 'A'. Angels 'A' won the first three quarters 8-5, 13-9 and 8-6 while Pacers 'A' won the final quarter 11-7.