In Your Neighbourhood

Doubles Mania badminton

The Doubles Mania badminton tournament continues today and tomorrow with matches in Open, Veterans (over 45) and C division at the Constant Spring Golf Club.

Kirk Francis and St. Andrew High schoolgirl Shenelle Peart, who were both winners in the recent Tournament of Kings (singlesonly tournament), should lead the charge for the top spots in the Open section.

Most of the locally-based national players are expected to be in action this weekend in this doubles only tournament.

Last Sunday, DeCarteret College's Gareth Henry copped both the men's doubles and mixed doubles titles in the B division in the first leg at the same venue.

In D division, Haile Selassie High students Jamarey Gordon and Stacy-Ann Blake won the mixed doubles.

The 15-year-old Henry first teamed with Chadwick Parsons, his Pan American Junior gold medal partner, to defeat Carlos Stephens and Dwayne Watson, 21-16, 21-16. He then paired with Tracy Morgan to defeat Stephens and Mikaylia Haldane 20-22, 21-11, 21-13.

Watersports edge Dining Room 30-29

In a clash of unbeaten teams, last year's losing finalists, the Watersports Department, survived a tough challenge to hold off Dining Room, 30-29 in action from the 2007 inter-department domino competition at Grand Lido Braco Resort and Spa.

The early part of the match had the teams level at 5-5, 16-16 and then 25-21 in favour of the winners, but consistent play by the losers' pair of Paul Stoddart and Roland McKenzie, both members of the hotel's domino team, enabled them to tie the score at 26-26 before the winners held their nerves and squeezed out the narrow victory.

Hotel basketball

Defending champions and overwhelming preseason favourites Sunset Beach Resort and Spa defeated the team they beat in the semi-finals last year, Sandals Royal Caribbean, 20-13 in action from the SuperClubs-sponsored all-island hotels 3-on-3 basketball competition.

The match was played at the latter's home ground on Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, last year's third-place team, Grand Lido Braco Resort and Spa, defeated first-time entrants Runaway Bay Heart Academy 20-13. The hosts, as a result of the win, earned a place in the quarter-finals and will either face sister property Grand Lido Negril Resort and Spa or Tryall Hotel.

Starfish Trelawny Resort havealso advanced to the quarter-finals and will host either Sandals Royal Caribbean or Half Moon Hotel.

# Cash injection for Ebony Park footballers

Clarendon's Ebony Park Football Club has received a $100,000 cash donation, football gear and nets.

The donations came from various interest groups in the parish as the club seeks to reclaim its glory days as the breeding ground for some of the parish's top footballers.

Businessman Derrick Francis made a sizeable contribution of $100,000 to the club.

Businessman and PNP caretaker for SW Clarendon, Noel 'Butch' Arscott, donated football gear while JLP caretaker, Joel Williams, donated nets for the goalposts.

In his presentation speech, Francis said he was grateful to see youth in the community take interest in the development of football and, as such, reassured the group he would be willing to make future contributions.

Michael Ricketts, president of the Clarendon Football Association, hailed the contributions.

Holland, STETHS to face off

LACOVIA: Unbeaten teams Holland Police Youth Club and STETHS will square off in a top-of-the-table Wray & Nephew Major League clash tomorrow at Holland, starting at 3:30 p.m.

Holland have played seven matches, five of which they have won, to lead the standings with 17 points while STETHS have won five of six matches (16 points).

In other games, fourth-place Balaclava United (12) host Black River YC at Braes River and 10th-place Super Action will be at home to New River at Mountainside. All matches start at 3:30.

Today, three games will be played; two in the Wray and Nephew Major League and one in the St. Elizabeth Co-op Credit Union Division One.

In the Major League, Appleton Estates (15 points), who flooded New River United 7-2 two Sundays ago, host fifth-place Rasta Camp (10) at Appleton in what is expected to be a keen contest while sixth-place Young Brazil (six) will be seeking to add three more points when they entertain second from bottom Epping Forest (four) at the Santa Cruz Community Centre.

In the lone Division One game, Longwood play away to Mountainside.

On Wednesday, STETHS rallied from 2-0 down to beat Appleton 3-2. In the last round of matches, Balaclava whipped struggling Haughton, who are at the bottom on three points, 7-0 and Holland and Black River drew 1-1.

Red Hills win tape ball

Red Hills Road B won the inaugural Under-15 tape ball cricket competition last Sunday when they defeated Rollington Town A in the final at the Mona hockey field.

The eight-a-side competition was contested by four Corporate Area communities, each represented by two teams. Batting first, Rollington Town A made 33 for six off the allotted eight overs (three-ball overs), while Red Hills B replied with 33 for four, winning with four balls to spare.

Winning captain Kenar Wallace, who top-scored with 15 for Red Hills B, accepted the SDC Trophy on behalf of his team which was coached and managed by Lenworth 'Billy' Higgins. Run by the Jamaica Cricket Association, the competition was co-sponsored by the SDC and Manpower Maintenance.

# Caribbean Classic win big domino clash

Caribbean Classic kept their unbeaten record intact in the CTL-sponsored Portmore/St. Catherine domino league last Sunday when they defeated Fort International 300-255 before a large crowd in a top-of-the-table clash at Portmore Lane.

Playing at home, Caribbean Classic led from start to finish. They were ahead by as many as 31 points at half-time and asserted their authority after the interval to win by 45, recording their 18th win from as many matches this season to lead with maximum 90 points.

The competition is contested by 22 teams.

Chocolate Hole cash in,

CHOCOLATE HOLE captured one of the biggest prizes in community cricket whenthey withdrew $100,000 from NCB's account last Sunday.

Guided by the the experienced former Jamaica and West Indies A team batsman Tony Powell, Chocolate Hole won the NCB-sponsored south-east St. Elizabeth knockout title after beating Ballards Valley by 85 runs.

Sent to bat, Chocolate Hole scored 222 for six in their allotted 35 over. Ballards Valley were dismissed for 137.

Davian Davidson led the way for the champions with a well-compiled 77 while Courtney Nembard chipped in with 33.

Wayne Simpson, 2-43 off seven overs, and Mark Gordon, 4-24 - also off seven overs, were the pick of the bowlers.

In reply, Ballards Valley never threatened the score and were blown away for 137 in 27 overs.

chief scorers

Captain Trace Powell, 32, and Jason Walters, 22, were the chief scorers agains Beckford, 4-44 off seven overs, and Durant McCloud, 2-17.

Southside Youth Club collected the Witter's Hardware Award and $10,0000 for being the most disciplined team.

During the brief post-match presentation ceremony, Davidson collected four awards. He received $2,500 for scoring most runs and $2,500 for most sixes which added up to give him the Kinkead's Appliances Man-of-the-Series award.

He was also voted the Man-of-the-Match for which he got $3,000.

Wayne Simpson and Mark Gordon (12 wickets each) shared the award and $2,500 for most wickets.

The best five-wicket haul went to Domaine Wilson (5-6) and he collected $2,500. Damion Ebanks with five stumpings and nine catches was the top wicketkeeper while Tyrone Vassell, with six catches, was the top fielder.