Big semi-finals on tomorrow
Published:Saturday | September 3, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Western Bureau: Reigning champions and red-hot favourites Crystal will be among the four teams seeking places in the final of the 2011 Hunger Busta/Impact Auto St James Netball Association (StJNA) Senior League tomorrow afternoon when semi-final action unfolds with a big double-header at the Montego Bay Cricket Club courts.
"We are expecting two exciting matches based on the current form of the teams," said Cleopatra Ebanks, an executive member of the StJNA. "It has been an excellent season so far, and we are hoping it will end with a bang."
The unbeaten Crystal, who topped Zone A of the preliminary round with a 100 per cent win record, which saw them amassing 24 points from their eight games, will play Zone B second-place finishers Angels A in the 3:30 p.m. curtain-raiser, while in the second game at 5 p.m. the enterprising Twelve Stars, the winners of Zone B, with 19 points, will battle Blazers, the runner-up to Crystal in Zone A.
point standings
At the conclusion of the compe-tition's preliminary round, which featured 10 teams divided into two zones of five teams each, the final points standing reads as follows: Zone A: Crystal - 24, Blazers -13, Pacers Juvenile - 7, Angels B - 6 and Starlight Juniors - 3. Zone B: Twelve Stars - 19, Angels A -18, Sting - 10, Pacers A - 6 and Starlight A - 2.
Crystal, which is chasing their third title of the season, having already won the competition's open rally and mid-season titles, should start favourites against the Clint Parkins-coached Angels 'A', which completed their preliminary fixtures in Zone B with six wins and two defeats in their eight games.
Champions look awesome
With Amayla Stewart, Rita Spence and Ladonna Lamonth, who currently tally 93, 78 and 77 goals, respectively, leading the Crystal attack and the versatile Gina Haughton, Dahlia Rickettes and Kayon Graham spearheading defence, the champions appear awesome.
In their quest for an upset, Angels 'A', will not only be hoping that Crystal have an uncharacteristically bad day but also that their top players - Doniesha Love, Omeisha Peterkin, Nadine Earle and Nicole Fletcher - will come to the party in a big way.
In the second semi-final, the Twelve Stars aggregation, the beaten finalists in both the open rally and mid-season finals, are favourites to topple Blazers in their bid to get another shot at taking home a title this season.
Twelve Stars will be led by star shooters Crystalee Carter and Jodi McIntosh alongside Santina Brown and Antonette Reid. Blazers could prove awesome with the likes of Monique Bingham, Nickiesha Fearon and Shadian Hemming.
- A.F.