Sista skittles quarter-finals

The 2009 champion Fitzroy 'Paul' Blair from Eastern All-Stars heads the list of quarter-finalists in tomorrow's Jamaica Skittles Federation/Sista National Open Singles Championships, after his thrilling five-set win over Rowe's Strikers' Karyl 'Chassy' Walker at Bourbon Sports Bar, Windward Road, on Sunday.

It was one of the three major grudge matches of the round of 16.

After a ding-dong tussle, both players were locked at 2-2 going into the fifth and final game, but Blair held his nerves to beat Walker 1570-1120. He will now face Walker's vice-captain, Garfield 'Milligram' Samuels, who had a 3-1 victory over Mister C's captain Aubyn Flynn.

In the same bottom half of the draw, Blair's teammate, Nehemiah 'Fatta' Henry, ended Emmanuel Munda's hopes of winning the title with a 3-2 win.

After beating topline players Sydney Carrington and the 2010 champion, Winston 'Wimpy' Lyew, Munda appeared on a roll, but Henry, the 2006 champion, was at his best, coming from a game down to win 3-2 and secure his place in the quarter-finals.

Henry will be seeking sweet revenge against Fred 'Bushman' March, who upset his teammate and former champion, Leslie 'Toothpick' Puranda, in another five-set thriller.

In the top half of the draw, title favourite Dane Jones of Eagles ended teammate Ruthlyn Bailey's giant-killing run with a 3-0 victory and will now play Steven Thompson of Eastern.

Thompson had earlier defeated Eagles' Godfrey Willis 3-1, while Eagles' Clinton 'Fly Up' Thompson overpowered his teammate Orville Mighty 3-1 to advance.

Thompson has been drawn to meet Ravel Montague of Rowe's Strikers. Montague put away Eagles player Rudolph 'Niah' Mullings in straight sets for his quarter-final spot.

The action continues at Bourbon House tomorrow, starting at 2 p.m.

Worthy Gold pool tourney

The Worthy Gold eight-ball pool tournament cues off next Saturday, March 30, and concludes the following day at Hot Shots Pool Bar, 120A Constant Spring Road. It offers a first prize of $100,000 and trophy. Entry fee is $2,500 or $3000 after March 16.

Portals let off Bridgeport

East Portmore Portals will hope that they will not pay for last Sunday's inept shooting when they meet Bridgeport FC in the second-leg semi-final match of the LIME Portmore Division Two football league at Passagefort playing field tomorrow at 1 p.m.

The first leg ended 0-0. Portals missed at least five chances, including Keino Walker's misjudged attempt on goal from point-blank range; and Shamir Rall, who with Bridgeport's goalkeeper, Robert Desilva, at his mercy, chose to pass instead of ramming the ball into an unprotected net.

Fourth-seed Cumberland hold a surprise 1-0 advantage going into tomorrow's second-leg semi-final match against top-ranked Greater Portmore, as Ray Christie answered the call for the underdogs with a second-half strike.

Right Stuff stumble

Multiple champions Fort International condemned defending champs Right Stuff to their first loss of the season as they hammered them 300-250 in a match at Fort's ground, Sky Sports Bar, Passagefort Drive, on Sunday. With the win, Fort joined three other teams with 44 points in a four-way tie at the top. Right Stuff remained on 44 points, while Caribbean Classic, who were idle, are also on 44 points.

Eradication hit the 44-point mark from 12 games, when they boot Island Special Constabulary Force 300-277.

In other games, fifth-place Prozz and Conns (35 points) were shocked 300-293 by the ever-improving Passagefort United (28), ninth-place Hurricane (28) blew past Masterpiece 300-294 in a countdown, Eagle View defeated Colours Sports Club 300-266, Ken's Wildflower outlasted Caymanas Track 300-290, Exceptional International downed Spring Village 300-252, while Black Rooster condemned Highlight Strikers to their 12th loss of the season with a 300-277 victory. The competition takes a break tomorrow.

Garveymeade host pairs competition

Garveymeade Sports Club will tomorrow host the Domino pairs competition at the club's headquarters in Garveymeade, Portmore, St Catherine, tomorrow, starting at noon.

Players from Portmore and other parts of St Catherine and the Corporate Area will vie for a top prize of $20,000. Entry fee is $1,000 per pair. Second place gets $10,000. Additionally, there will be a raffle of a flat-screen television set, an electric fan, and an iron. Tickets cost $250 each.

Old Harbour, Fel Tab face off

Defending champions Old Harbour Bay New Testament will face Fellowship Tabernacle (Fel Tab) in one of four quarter-final games in the Power of Faith Ministries Church 20/20 Cricket League at the Bridgeport sports ground this morning, beginning at 9:30.

Devoy Smith and André Henry, with centuries already under their belts, will lead the defending champs, while Fel Tab, who are the underdogs, will counter through Ronaldo Harris and Errol Flynch. Also, at Bridgeport at 1:30 p.m., Portmore Gospel Assembly tackle Miracle Open Bible.

At Lime Tree Oval, four-time champions Power of Faith International take on Christ Cathedral Community Worship Centre at 9:30 a.m., then at 1:30 p.m., Power of Faith Development square off with Lighthouse Gospel Assembly. The matches were postponed due to the inclement weather last week.

Rivoli take lead

Rivoli will take a 1-0 lead against parish-mates Fraszier's Whip in tomorrow's second-leg final of the South Central Confederation Super League at Spanish Town Prison Oval. Kick-off is at 4 p.m., with provisions made for extra-time and penalty kicks if necessary.

Rivoli's advantage was secured mid-week through Devon Hodges' 32nd-minute goal in the first-leg match, which was also played at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Fraszier's Whip are highly motivated by their first-year success at this level, and manager Wayne Thomas remains adamant that his side will put up a fight.

"The game itself went well, except for the goal Rivoli scored, and I don't believe one goal is going to be good enough to beat us on two legs," he told The Gleaner.

Rivoli's coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, said his team will remain focused on winning as the objective is to get back to the National Premier League.

"We are confident that we have what it takes. We had better positioning and created more chances while they were aggressive. It's a matter of us keeping our focus."

DB Basovak, Albion hold clear advantage

It is almost surely curtains for the season of Flamingo in the LIME St Catherine FA Major League after they were soundly beaten 4-0 by DB Basovak in the first-leg semi-final at Spanish Town Prison Oval on Thursday.

DB Basovak's scorers included Vinroy Hayles (20th), Luke Soares (22nd), Zavian McGaw (44th) and Renardo Graham (90th). It will take a herculean effort from Flamingo men to win by five clear goals in the second-leg match that is scheduled for next Thursday at the same venue.

Albion also hold a clear 3-1 advantage over Dunbeholden in their LIME Division One match, also at the venue. The league's leading scorer, Tavoy Morgan (48th), rounded off the scoring for Albion, after Orville Newell (24th) and Kenny Lee (42nd) had given them a 2-1 lead at half-time. Richard Oates (third) scored for Dunbeholden.

Newell win St Elizabeth mid-season final

Former South Central Confederation Super League representative Newell FC won the Wray & Nephew-sponsored St Elizabeth Major League mid-season final last weekend, after defeating Black Star FC 3-2 on penalties.

Newell pocketed a trophy, as well as cash incentive of $30,000. The losers got $20,000.

Newell then celebrated in style on Wednesday when Lingarley Vassell's goal in the 35th minute handed them a 1-0 win over Parrottee. They have now eclipsed Black Star at the top of the standings. Black Star's loss in the finals also continued with a midweek 1-2 loss to Young Brazil.

Tafari Lions, who missed out narrowly on the mid-season final, won 2-0 playing away to Mountainside.

Newell's one-point lead leaves a trail of three teams - Black Star, Tafari Lions and Young Brazil - on 19 points. Next are Round Hill on 16 points and Holland PYC on 14.

Three players are locked on six goals for the race to be leading goalscorer. They are Kirk Wright of Young Brazil, Ricardo Reid of Black Star, and Tafari Powell of Round Hill.

Sporting humble Jamalco

The development side of Premier League outfit Sporting Central Academy inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Jamalco and took over sole leadership of the Captain's Bakery and Grill-sponsored Clarendon FA Major League. Sporting are now on 13 points from five games, mined from four wins and a draw. Also this week, Sporting defeated the development side of fellow NPL representative Humble Lion 1-0.

Jamalco are second on 12 points after rebounding with a 3-2 win over York Town on Tuesday.

In other results earlier this week, Comfort had a 2-0 win over Monymusk, Original Hazard prevailed 3-0 over Summerfield, and Woodhall stopped Milk River 2-1.

The rest of the standings sees New Bowens and Original Hazard on 10 points each, Comfort on nine, and the pair of Humble Lion and Summerfield on eight.

The competition continues today with two games: York Town vs Milk River, and Jamalco vs Woodhall. Both games begin at 3:30 p.m.

Manchester Academy Division Two round-up

Grey Ground's 3-0 win over Blue Mountain highlighted play in this week's Manchester Division Two. The result pushed Grey Ground to the top of the 18-team standings on seven points from three games. They are ahead of the three-team pack on six points, namely Manchester Academy, Royal Flat, and Blue Mountain.

Manchester Academy, which is really a squad of Manchester High players, netted a 1-0 win over Hills United, courtesy of Gavin Sinclair's goal. Royal Flat, spurred by Wayne Blake's goal, also won 1-0 over Mike Town. Blue Mountain had their second win, a 3-1 success over Hanbury.

Downs back on top

Downs regained leadership of the Captain's Bakery & Grill-sponsored Manchester Major League, following a 1-0 win over Porus in last weekend's 12th round. Downs lead by goal difference, as Greenvale, the previous round's leader, and who lost ground with a 2-2 draw with Alligator Pond, also have 23 points.

Hot on their heels are Alligator Pond on 22, Porus on 21 and Mile Gully on 20. Mile Gully were the only other team to achieve victory in the 12th round, following their 2-1 win over struggling former champions, Hillstars. Hillstars have just six points, mined from two wins in 12 matches. The round's final match ended in a 2-2 draw between Comfort and Villa United.

In this weekend's 13th round, Villa United and Porus will meet at 1:30 p.m. today as part of a Brooks Park double-header. In the 3:30 encounter, Hillstars will entertain Greenvale. The remaining two matches will see Mile Gully hosting Comfort, also today, while Downs await Alligator Pond.

Jamalco Open league netball

Budding Manchester-based school May Day bounced back from their opening 20-23 loss to Holmwood Techical B to record a 27-6 win over Seven Stars as action continued last weekend in the Jamalco Open Netball league at the Mineral Heights Sports Complex. Quite recently, they had failed to net a single goal against big guns Jamalco in the season's one-day rally. The loss was Seven Stars' second, having succumbed to Jamalco 36-5.

Jamalco were idle due to the absence of opponents Holmwood, who were involved in the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships. Manchester were also absent for similar reasons.

Denbigh A recorded the round's highest win - a 38-10 victory over Humble Lion. Sewell Lane, who had drawn with Manchester 25-25 in the season-opener, recorded their first win - a 20-7 margin over Denbigh High B.

In other results from the second round, Glenmuir B stopped Vere Technical 20-12, Chapelton outscored Central High 16-7 and in the battle of two schoolgirl teams, Glenmuir B taught Fogo Road B a lesson, hammering them 24-2.

A full schedule of matches is slated for tomorrow's third round, which begins at 1 p.m. They are: Hayes Allstars vs Glenmuir B; Fogo Road A vs Vere; Denbigh B vs Jamalco; Cable Pro vs Manchester High A; May Day vs Manchester High B; and Chapelton vs Holmwood A.