Urban netball hits high gear today

THE hunt for places in the junior and senior finals of the ISSA Urban Area Schoolgirl Netball competition, scheduled for Thursday December 1, will get underway today at the Leila Robinson Courts at 2:00 p.m.

With the top qualifiers divided into two groups, the opening set of matches in the second round is sure to serve up some exciting contests.

Former champions, the Queen's School, which topped Zone B with five wins from just as many games have been drawn in Group 1 and will have Norman Manley, Wolmer's Girls, St. Catherine High, Holy Childhood and Campion to contend with. The Marvette Anderson coached team will go up against Holy Childhood in their opening match today. Other matches in this Group will see Norman Manley going up against Wolmer's and St. Catherine opposing Campion.

After winning their first title last year, the Dalton Hinds - conditioned Gaynstead High who eased through their Zone with five impressive wins, including a big 60-1 win over Mona will carry top billing in Group 2.

The other teams in the group are, St. Hugh's, St. Andrew Technical, Camperdown, Papine and St. Jago High.

The defending champions will face former champions, St. Hugh's in their opening game today. Other matches in the group will see Camperdown meeting St. Andrew Technical High and Papine going up against St. Jago High.

SIX TEAMS

Defending senior champion, Camperdown High will head the six teams that are drawn in Group 2 among the seniors.

Other teams here also include Gaynstead, Tarrant, St. Catherine High, St. Hugh's and Tivoli Gardens. The defending champions will get their title defence underway today when they do battle with Tivoli Gardens. Other matches in the group will have Gaynstead facing St. Hugh's and St. Catherine battling with Tarrant.

The Queen's School and the in-form Excelsior High are on a collision course as both teams have been drawn in Group 1. They will be joined by Immaculate, Penwood, Wolmer's and Norman Manley. Excelsior will meet Penwood in their opening fixture, while Queen's will oppose Immaculate. The other game in the group will have Norman Manley and Wolmer's squaring off.

There will be five sets of matches in the second round with the winners and runners-up of each group advancing to the semi-finals on Thursday November 24 at GC Foster College.