Shaw confident Jamalco will retain crown

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Wayne Shaw, manager of defending champions in the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA)/Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Open League, Jamalco, is confident they can retain their title this year.

Shaw made this assessment after watching his team thrash the University of the West Indies Pelicans 35-22 in the opening game of the competition last Saturday at the Leila Robinson Courts.

For this season, the Clarendon-based Jamalco will be without long-standing captain Nadine Bryan, who is now a member of the Pelicans team.

"I am happy with our performance because this is our first competitive match for the season and I think that they performed well," said Shaw.

The Winston Nevers-coached Jamalco led 17-14 at half-time.

"I am very confident that we can retain our title. Once we continue to play and be consistent then we should do well," Shaw said.

He added that Bryan's absence will not affect his team's chances of winning because they have adequate replacements.

'We have good players'

"We have good players who can step in and replace Nadine, and so that won't be a problem for us because this is very rounded team," Shaw said of his team, which has retained the bulk of their squad from last season.

"I think that as the season goes on my team will play better because we have four new young players who are playing with us, and I expect great things from them this season," he pointed out.

In Saturday's other games, former winners Tivoli Gardens 'A' beat G.C. Foster Strikers 'A' 26-16, Windalco edged Waulgrovians 'A' 31-30, Mico 'A' defeated Tivoli 'B' 38-12, Jetsetters 'B' stopped Hagley Park Strikers 'B' 35-19, Molynes United 'C' stopped De la Vega 25-24, Blades United 'A' whipped Spanish Town Strikers 30-14, Police 'B' got by Hannah Town 34-22, Speg 'B' thrashed Upper Camp 'B' 38-11, Arnett Gardens outclassed Omega 'A' 45-6, and Ravens 'A' beat Ebony Strikers 'B' 24-19.