Jamalco make emphatic statement

Robert Bailey,
Gleaner Writer

Defending champions, Jamalco sounded a strong warning to their rivals in this year's JNA/Berger Paints netball competition, with an emphatic 81-31 win over Police A in their opening match at the Leila Robinson Courts on Saturday.

Former national representative, Elaine Davis, was in spectacular shooting form, scoring 70 goals from 74 attempts as Jamalco led 42-13 at half-time. The other scorers for Clarendon-based Jamalco were Marsha Murphy, with six goals from eight attempts and Naudia Brown, with five from seven.

Yvonne Simpson, with 21 goals from 29 attempts and Marcella Thompson, 10 from 13, were the scorers for Police A.

Winston Nevers, coach of Jamalco, who are seeking their eighth straight hold on the trophy, was pleased with his team's performance.

Well-executed game

Nevers said: "I think that we played a well-executed game because we attacked and defended very good today. I think we are definitely going to defend our title, but we have to make sure that we're consistent in each of our games."

In the day's other games, Open League champions Waulgrovians A thrashed Tivoli Gardens B 61-19. National representatives Christina Solmon, with 25 goals from 32 tries, and Simone Forbes, 18 from 23, were the main scorers for Waulgrovians.

Patricia Chambers was leading scorer for Tivoli B with 14 goals.

Tivoli's A team had better fortune. Led by Cleopatra Grant's 38 goals from 47 attempts, the West Kingston team beat Windalco 45-40.

Deneen Taylor, with 27 from 31 and Ann-Kay Griffiths, 12 from 16, led Windalco in scoring.

Meanwhile, newcomers G.C. Foster Strikers stopped Skibo A 33-29. National Under-21 player, Crystal Gordon, led the way for G.C. Foster with 24 goals from 35 attempts. Samantha White was the leading scorer for Skibo A, with 25 goals from 40 attempts.