WESTERN BUREAU:

AS WAS widely expected, red-hot favourites, the dazzling Twelve Stars, crowned themselves champions of the 2008 JPS/St James Intermediate Netball League when they outclassed Destiny 43-28 in Saturday's final at the Montego Bay Cricket Club courts.

The Bethel Town team, which had already earned promotion to next year's JPS/St James Senior League by virtue of making the competition's final, took home the championship trophy and $30,000. The side went through the entire season unbeaten.

Hard work

"We put a lot of hard work into our preparations this season so I think we are deserving champions," said Antoinette 'Sweets' Reid, the captain of the Twelve Stars team. "We are now looking to the big league next season and, hopefully, we will be able to do just as well," she said.

In the play-off for third place, which preceded the final, Pacers 'B' defeated Starlight 'B' 38-33 in a contest which saw both teams playing well in spurts on surface which was made difficult by early afternoon rains.

"It was a fantastic season and I believe that the new cross-zone format we used this year worked quite well," said Charles Stephenson, the competition's coordinator. "Under the format we used, there is absolutely no question that the best team won."

In what was a dominant display in the final, the Twelve Stars team, which won three of the four quarters, got excellent service from goal shooter Qulia McPherson, who had a game-high 28 goals, and goal attack Natoya Virgo (13). Skipper Reid also had an exceptional game at goal defence.

Encouraging performances

Despite their loss, Destiny got encouraging performances from goal shooter Keron 'Munchie' Simpson and goal attack Tiffany 'Cee' Campbell, who got 22 and six goals, respectively.