Jamalco favoured to move into semis

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Jamalco are expected to blow away Blades United in their Jamaica Netball Association (JNA)/Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Open League quarter-final match at the Leila Robinson Courts this afternoon. Game time is 4:00.

In the day's other quarter-final games, Waulgrovians will oppose Jetsetters 'A' at 5 p.m. Tivoli Gardens 'A' face Police 'A' at 6 p.m. and Arnett Gardens entertain Windalco at 7 p.m.

Jamalco finished atop zone One with maximum 24 points from eight matches.

Wayne Shaw, manager of Jamalco, said: "We are very confident of a victory because Blades United is not Super League and so I am not expecting much of a challenge from them."

"I also think that we are a much more experienced team than they because we have a host of national and former national players in our line-up," said Shaw.

These national players include centre, Nadine Bryan, goal defence, Nicole Aiken, and wing attack, Sasher-Gaye Henry, while the former Jamaica representatives are goal shooter, Elaine Davis, goal attack, Marsha Murphy and goal defence, Naudia Brown.

shocking upset

However, Blades United's coach Rohan Byfield said his team is hoping to pull off a shocking upset over their much fancied opponents.

"We are going to play to the best our ability and hopefully we can spring a big surprise on them," said Byfield. "We are going to give them the fight of their lives because we are not going to lay down and let them roll over us."

He added: "Jamalco have a very rounded team because any one of them can be called to the national team. But our girls are very confident and very optimistic because they have been playing well and they are now peaking at the right time."

Blades finished atop Zone Two with 21 points from the eight matches.