Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Donovan Pagon -File

LAST YEAR'S winners Melbourne head a long list of group leaders who will be in action this weekend in the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) all-island limited overs competition.

The defending champions, who last week recorded a comfortable 88-run win over Lucas - thanks to a fine 95 from discarded national opener Donovan Pagon - will play away to St Thomas at the Goodyear Oval, in one of 10 games that are down to be contested on this, the second week of competition.

In other matches, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will play away to Lucas and Kensington will visit Boys' Town. The JDF and Kensington, which also scored first round wins, are joint leaders with Melbourne in Group D.

failed to gain promotion

The JDF, who were earlier this year relegated from the top-tier two-day competition - the Jamaica Super League - defeated Boys' Town by three wickets in their opening encounter, while Kensington, who failed in their bid to gain promotion to the Super League from the JCA Senior Cup, got the better of St Thomas by sevens runs.

In Group B, St Catherine Cricket Association, which defeated G.C. Foster College by six wickets in their opening fixture, will be idle. This will leave fellow leaders, St Ann, who got the better of Manchester in their opening match-up, with enough room to take over leadership of the group as the men from northern Jamaica take on Clarendon at St Ann Bauxite.

The group's other match will see G.C. Foster taking on Manchester.

In Group C, St Catherine Cricket Club, who have in their line-up the competition's only centurion so far, Junior Stewart, who hit 108 in his club's 148-run opening round win over St Mary, will play away to last year's beaten finalists, Police, at Elleston Road.

Kingston, who defeated Kingston and St Andew in their opening rubber, will be at home to Portland, while St Mary will travel to Maxfield Park to face Kingston and St Andrew, in the group's other fixture.

sole leadership

Hanover, who share the lead in Group A with St Elizabeth - who have drawn a bye this round - will play away to Westmoreland. Victory would earn them sole leadership of the group. The men from out west, who were promoted to the Super League following victory over Kensington, will be led by Richard Southern, who in claiming 6-21, guided them to victory over Trelawny last week.

The preliminary round, which is slated for five weekends, is being contested on a round-robin basis with the top two teams slated to advance to the next stage - the quarter-final knockout.