Gleaner to defend title against Air Jamaica

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Gleaner put their title on the line this evening when they oppose old rivals Air Jamaica in the JET-sponsored Business House Division One domino final at the JPS Sports Club, Ruthven Road, starting at 6:00.

This is a replay of last year's final which saw The Gleaner squeezing home by one point in a thrilling finish.

Despite having lost twice (home and away) to JET in the preliminary round of the competition, The Gleaner got their act together by beating Seprod in the quarter-final and also Campari by seven points in the semi-final last Friday at the JPS Sports Club.

Air Jamaica, on the other hand, lost twice to LoJ in the preliminary stages.

However, they rebounded nicely to beat them by the resounding margin of 51 points (150-99) in semi-final action at the JPS last Friday.

CONTRASTING RUNS

Both The Gleaner and Air Jamaica have contrasting runs in finals.

While the 'newsmen' seek their third consecutive Division One title, having beaten Tankweld in 2004 and Air Jamaica last year, their opponents lost the Division Two final to LoJ in 2004 and last year were beaten by The Gleaner when promoted to Division One.

Despite all that, Air J's captain, Howard Matthews, says his team will rise to the occasion, pointing to their demolition of high-riding LoJ in the semis.

"That was the first time a team was winning by such a wide margin in the competition and the players are really looking forward to this one," Matthews said.

"In fact, it's just a matter of how far we will win. Last year, we lost to The Gleaner in the final seconds of the match. Now I feel we are a better team and the trophy will change hands this year," he said.

Matthews will partner Errol Thompson, while Roger Hull and regular partner Fred Thomas could be the pair to spearhead Air Jamaica to victory if their success rate is anything to go by.

Completing the list of players are Errol Hylton, Asherman Forbes, Andre Carr, Ricardo Green, Oral Gardner, Linval Johnson, Kenton McFarlane and Richard Grant with Damion Yapp as manager.

CONFIDENT TEAM

The Gleaner will once again be captained by veteran Winston 'Pressy' Nixon who is oozing confidence.

"We lost to JET earlier in the season when it didn't really hurt us, but now we are in the final and The Gleaner doesn't lose finals ... My team is confident of completing the hat-trick because we are the best in Business House," Nixon said.

The Gleaner starting team is Leroy Cooper and Michael 'Johnny Handsome' Leighton, Earl 'Marro' Morrison and Courtney Burke, Domion Shorter and veteran Ronald Berry, Bernard Blackwood and Gary Mowatt. Nixon, Eric Channer, Omar McCurdy and Paul Waugh round off the team.

Water Commission will oppose Fire Brigade (Water vs Fire) this evening in the Division Two final at the same venue.