Western Bureau:

Former champions Hanover Masters sounded an early warning in the 2009 Spoon Auto Supply's Steve Bucknor Western Master Football League on Sunday, when they opened their Zone B campaign in the eight-team competition with a smashing 12-0 win against Infernal.

Playing before the home fans at the Kenilworth Community Centre in Hanover, the rampaging Hanover Masters had a field day, scoring heavily through former national striker Devon Ricketts (four goals), Philbert Thompson (four goals), Durrent 'Tatty' Brown (two) and Clifton Williams and Otis Miller one each.

"We are ready to reclaim our title," said Brown, whose team's seven-year winning streak was snapped by Violet Tourers last year.

He added: "We are ready and focused and looking forward to a great season."

Bad start

Champions Violet Tourers, who are hell-bent on retaining the title, got off to a less than desirable start when Challenger Masters, one of the teams expected to figure prominently this year, held them to a 1-1 draw.

"It was not as smooth a start as we had anticipated because we had some challenges with some venues," said Craig Oates, the chairman of the competition's steering com-mittee. "Nonetheless, come next weekend it should be all smooth sailing."

In other Zone B matches, Good Vibes upstaged Tomorrow's People 7-0, Logwood Stump edged Anchovy Masters 2-1 and Falmouth Masters surprised Hornets 2-1.

In Zone A games, FCF Masters (formerly Air Jamaica) outscored newcomers Brown's Town 3-1, Forever Sports edged Original Tourers 2-1, while Norwood Strikers and Russians drew 2-2.

Based on the competition's format, the teams will play each other twice in their respective zones in the preliminary stage. The top two teams in each zone will advance to the semi-final phase. All four semi-finalists will qualify for the annual Kirkvine Masters Tournament, which will be staged in Manchester on Independence Day.

"The enthusiasm among the teams is quite high," said Oates. "And as is now customary, this competition is by far the most popular competition in the region."