Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Waulgrovians' goalshooter Suzette DeSouza leaps to collect a pass that beats Jamalco's Nicole Aiken (centre) while Waulgrovians' Connie Francis (right) looks on during their Berger Paints Super Netball League match at the Leila Robinson Courts earlier this season. Jamalco won 61-53. Both teams face-off in this afternoon's big semi-final clash. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMALCO ARE inching ever so close to defending their Berger Paints Super Netball League title.
In a titanic semi-final clash today at 5:45p.m., they will play Waulgrovians 'A', who had an easy 63-34 victory over Police 'A' on Friday, at the Leila Robinson Courts.
The Clarendon-based champion team secured their spot in one of Saturday's quarter-final games, when they turned back their sister team Windalco 55-46.
In another quarter-final that day, Tivoli 'A' trampled over Seneca 'A' in a totally one-sided affair, winning 55-24.
Omega 'A' did similar damage to Jetsetters 'A' who only managed 28 points to their opponents' 49.Those results set up a good semi-final encounter between Omega 'A' and Tivoli 'A' today, also at 5:45 p.m.
ANY MISTAKE COSTLY
Tivoli, who were last year's beaten finalists, are looking to go one better and are favourites to outlast their opponents today, who are also coached by Sylvester Campbell.
However, they must be aware of the threat that the supposed underdogs have. The game is a semi-final and any mistake could prove costly.
When the teams met in the earlier rounds, Tivoli were victorious but Omega showed that they can play alongside them and a spirited performance could provide a surprise.
In the game between Jamalco and Waulgrovians 'A', the latter will be trying to find an answer for the combination of Nadine Bryan and Romelda Aiken.
The height of Aiken has been a problem for teams all season and if that is not sorted out, Waulgrovians, albeit having great firepower in the statuesque figure of Suzette DeSouza, might not have enough to outscore Jamalco which remain the only unbeaten team in the league this season.
NUMBER TWO TEAM
In the semi-finals of the Western Union Division 'B' League on Saturday, Ravens ensured that they would find themselves as at least the number two team in the league when they defeated Ebony Strikers 'A' in an extremely close 39-38 finish, after trailing 20-21 in the second quarter and 27-28 in the third.
Ravens will face Arnett Gardens in Thursday's final after Arnett romped to a 40-27 victory over Alexander Strikers and moved to within a game of completing a successful title defence.
Arnett dominated that game with the shooting of Shellyann Williams' 20 goals from 28 attempts, and national Under-21 player Kadian Mendez knocking down 20 from 25.
Arnett led all four quarters, 13-8, 17-12, 30-19, before closing out the game in the final quarter.
