IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD: Content disqualified

Content, a St Ann-based team in the Social Development Commission's (SDC) National Community cricket competition, was disqualified on Wednesday from taking any further part in the competition.

This is Content's second disqualification, having been thrown out of the inaugural tournament in 2006.

The disqualification resulted from Content's use of more than two elite players in a match against Summer Hill. Content used five elite players, which is over the limit for the use of elite players in the competition overall.

According to tournament rules, each community squad will be entitled to a maximum of four elite players from the top local domestic competitions namely: Supreme Ventures Super Cup/Pro League; Red Stripe Senior Cup; Capital & Credit Limited Overs competition; Senior parish teams. However, only a maximum of two such players may be nominated for a particular match.

Bennett hat-trick lifts Galina

Galina Primary, led by a hat-trick from Daveon Bennett, thrashed Mount Angus 5-0 in the James Bond Beach (JBB) Primary Schools football league at the JBB complex in Oracabessa, St Mary, on Wednesday.

Bennett scored in the fifth, 40th and 41st minutes while Marvin Chambers and Ramesh Brown supported with goals in the 34th and 45th minutes.

Meanwhile, Locksley Harrow and Ricardo Sterling scored for Gayle, who beat Three Hills 2-0.

Harrow scored in the 11th and Sterling netted in the 31st minute.

In other games, Coloraine United defeated Spring Head United 6-1. Martin Simms netted a hat-trick for the Coloraine team while Dwayne Irving, Kevin Humphrey and Okari Wilson scored the other goals.

Oracabessa Police Youth Club outscored Gully Creepers 4-1.

Gayle beat Three Hills

On the netball court, also at the James Bond Beach, Gayle squeezed out a 7-6 win over Three Hills.

Ashana Spike, who netted five goals from 11 attempts, led the way for the winners.

In game two, Mount Angus outclassed Galina Primary 18-0. Devonica Gordon scored 12 goals from 18 attempts for Mount Angus.

Rugby coaches, referees workshop

The Jamaica Rugby Union (JRU) continues its drive to improve the standard of the sport with another workshop for coaches and referees.

The workshop, the third in the series, will be held today and tomorrow at Irwin High School in Montego Bay, St James, at 9 a.m. each day.

On the JRU trip to Montego Bay, Jim Snead from Jamaica's second city, will be honoured for his long and outstanding service to the development of rugby in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Scott Harland, Rugby Development Officer for North America West Indies Rugby Association arrived in the island yesterday for a five-day visit. During his visit, Harland will vet the JRU development programmes.

James takes Clarendon chess open

Fifteen-year-old Wolmer's Boys student Stuart James scored five points from six games to top the Clarendon Chess Open at Glenmuir High last weekend.

James topped the Open section ahead of Mikhail Solomon and Paul Brooks, who both ended on 4 1/2 points.

National Master Malaku Lorne, Laurence Davy, Zachary Ramsay, Peter Thomas and Lucien Rowe tied for fourth.

The award for best female entrant in the Open section went to Krishna Gray of Wolmer's Girls, while the prize for best player under 1800 was shared between Andrew Ellis, Terence Lindo and Shandar Sybron.

Laurence Davy and Lucien Rowe shared the award for best Clarendon player.

In the section for entrants with a Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) rating under 1600, veteran Oral Wright scored five points from six games.

Kevron Campbell and Demain Patrick, who also scored five points, finished second and third respectively on the tiebreak. Alethia Edwards and Noel Brown shared fourth with 4.5 points each.

Eastern Cross Country set for Friday

The JPS Eastern Cross Country Athletic Championship, marred by its controversial rules last year, will take place on November 14.

Last year's event saw the organisers misinterpret the rules set out by the International Associations of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and Glengoffe was adversely affected.

According to the Eastern Cross Country rules, six athletes make up a team, but although only the top four score points, the team will be disqualified if all athletes fail to finish. Under the IAAF rules, once four athletes finish, the team will secure its score.

The categories will see senior boys competing over four miles, while the senior girls and junior boys and girls will run three miles.

Oberlin High, defending champions, are aiming to retain their trophy. Yallahs, Glengoffe, Morant Bay and Tacky are among the other top schools.

- Michael McLean