Tough battles for group honours in JNBS netball

By ANTHONY FOSTER, Freelance Writer

TOMORROW'S FINAL preliminary round matches in the JNBS-sponsored Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) Open League are expected to be hotly contested.

After weeks of preliminary round matches, none of the eight Group winners have been decided.

Only the Group winners advance to the knockout phase, but all the leaders and top 'guns' will be hard pressed come 2:45 tomorrow afternoon at the Leila Robinson Courts.

Unbeaten leaders

In Group A, unbeaten and joint leaders Jamalco and Hampshire 'A' are tied on nine points each, but with the two playing each other, the deadlock will be broken at the end of 30 minutes.

Unbeaten Molynes United 'A' are on top of Group B with 15, but should be hard pressed by joint second place Blades United who along with Holy Childhood have 12 points each.

Molynes United are aware that only victory can push them forward, while Blades and Holy Childhood, who will be going up against Speg 'C' will also be in the hunt for a place in the KO stage.

Group C will feature a top-of-the-table clash between Tivoli 'A' and Alpha 'A', both are tied on 15 points. With both boosting a 100 percent win record, this could prove too close to call.

Over in Group D, all eyes will be on Courts three and four at 4:15 p.m. when Seneca 'A' and Dela Vega 'A' oppose Speg 'B' and Arnett Gardens respectively.

Both Seneca 'A' and Dela Vega 'A' are locked on 10 points, but the former have an easier match against Speg 'B' (six points).

Waulgrovian (15 points) are aware that a win will give them Group E honours, but that will have to come against second place Ebony Strikers 'A' (13).

However, Group F will not be decided until next Tuesday, this when Speg 'A' and Omega 'A' face-off in the top-of-the-table clash.