Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
THE BEST eight netball teams in the country are set to square off in the quarter-finals of the Berger Paints Super League at the Leila Robinson Courts this evening starting at 6:00.
Arnett Gardens, who have only just made their way into the top league in the country, have played their hearts out to get to this stage, but will find the going tough against defending champions Jamalco, who have something to prove after losing their first league game in two years this season.
Waulgrovians A, who have been knocking on the door for another title over the past four years after being knocked off their position of dominance by Tivoli A and Jamalco, will be trying to outdo a game Police A.
Police are a club on the rise and, after they suffered a mini-collapse last year; they too have something to prove.
However, they will find the experience of the Waulgrovians coach, the wily Patrick Brissett, difficult to beat.
Alpha A are probably the youngest team in the quarter-finals and they have that exuberance on their side.
PITFALLS
However, that could also turn on them, setting those pitfalls produced by inexperience when their game against Tivoli A tips off.
Tivoli are also a hungry team, after just missing out on pole position in the league over the past three years against Jamalco and they are eager for another chance at a final.
In the final quarter-final of the evening, Tivoli have another chance for glory through their B team, which will trade centre passes with Windalco for a place in the semi-finals.
Windalco are seasoned campaigners and are regulars at this stage of the competition. Getting over that hump, however, has proven to be a serious obstacle, but this time around they stand a good chance of making it to the final four.
That opportunity presents itself because they will play against a Tivoli B team that has only just got the hang of playing with the big leaguers.
Tivoli B finished close to last place last year and people questioned whether they should have been promoted to the Super League as quickly as they were.
When there was a new A League introduced this year, there was the question of whether Tivoli B should be among those vying for that title rather than suffer at the hands of more experienced teams in the Super League.
However, they have stayed with the top guns and furthermore proven that they deserve to be here.
For them, win or lose, it has been a successful season. The expectant public shouldn't be fooled by that though, because they are a competitive team and will give as good as they get and if Windalco aren't careful Tivoli B might just advance.
