Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
Seneca's Deaundria Coleman prepares to move away from Waulgrovian goal keeper Marvetta Murray during Berger Senior League action at the Leila Robinson Courts yesterday. - ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
THE STAGE is set for several super showdowns this week at
the Leila Robinson Courts following the completion of Saturday's Supreme Ventures
Divisions A and C quarter-final netball games.
The Supreme Ventures-sponsored A and C League semi-finals will be played on Thursday while the Western Union-sponsored Division B semi-finals take place tomorrow.
In division C action Saturday, Speg set up a semi-final meeting with Friendship by beating UWI Revolution 25-15 in their qualifier. Friendship advanced to the semi-final with a 25-19 win over G. C. Foster College.
Molynes, who play Police in the other semi-final, edged Skibo B by two goals, winning 24-22 in a close encounter. Having entered the final quarter leading 20-16, Molynes could only manage four goals in the last quarter but Skibo still came up short.
Police advanced 26-22 winners over Ebony Strikers B in booking a ticket through to the semis.
DIVISION A
In Division A, Blades were blunted 35-21 by an aggressive Alexander Strikers. Interestingly, both teams locked horns at six goals apiece at the end of the first quarter but by half-time Alexander Strikers had an eight-goal cushion on Blades. The third quarter ended 28-15.
But it was Ravens who were in a killing mood. They disposed of Omega 44-27 to secure their semi-final berth. The other semi-finalists are Molynes, who beat Breaton 44-33 and Hampshire, who beat Ebony 50-49 in extra-time. Both teams had ended regulation time locked at 42 goals apiece.
Alexander Strikers and Molynes will now meet in one of Thursday's semi-finals, while Hampshire and Raven play in the other.
DIVISION B
Also on the cards this week are the Western Union Division B semi-finals. Torrington Park will play Speg A in one game while Waulgrovians play Skebo A in the other.
SENIOR LEAGUE
Defending Berger Senior League champions Jamalco were beaten 44-42 by arch-rivals Tivoli Gardens as the curtains fell on the first round of the competition. Defeat for Jamalco means that they will have to engage in a three-way play-off with Waulgrovians A and Tivoli A to determine which is seeded first entering the quarter-finals next weekend.
Many-time champions Waul-grovians had an easy 32-16 win over Seneca. Carla Williams, the darling of Jamaica's World Netball Championship journey in 2003, was on hand to witness the game and says she would have played if the situation warranted.
However, Seneca surrendered in the third quarter when goalkeeper Ann-Marie Small-Hyde could not continue due to cramps. Seneca had only the minimum five players at the venue and thus the loss of their 'keeper meant they could not continue.
Alpha A beat Police A 41-23 in another Senior League game.
