In your Neighbourhood

Alligator Pond still leads Manchester Major League

Progress in the Mikail Phillips - sponsored Manchester Major League was stalled after only one game was possible last weekend. That result saw Villa defeating Technical Strikers 3-1 despite gifting an own goal.

Villa have now moved to six points just behind Mile Gully and Comfort, who have seven points. Initially, Technical Strikers benefited from an own goal scored by Villa United in the 9th minute. However, Calvin Matthie went on to score a brace in the 44th and 56th minutes of play to pivot Villa to mid-table.

There is no change at the top where Alligator Pond leads with 18 points and a clean record from their first six games. They also have impressive goal difference having scored 12 and conceded one. Los Perfectos who did not get a chance to play, are on 15 points from their six games. Their only loss was to Alligator Pond in the season opener.

Blackstars dominate South Central Super league

St Elizabeth's Blackstars continued their domination of the Charley's/JB Rum South Central Super League with another convincing high-scoring performance. Manchester's Porus proved no match on home turf as Blackstars won 4-0.

Initially, Orlando Ricketts' 12th-minute strike was the only goal of the first half, which merely provided false hope for the spirit home fans. On the resumption, Xavier Harvey made it 2-0 in the 57th, Sean Watson 3-0 in the 83rd, before Dwayne Brown closed off the show in the final minute of play. Blackstars have now moved to 32 points comprised of an amazing 10 wins and two draws.

Old Harbour Bay United and Vere United are locked in an intense battle to take the second spot behind Blackstars, and their 0-0 draw in Clarendon did not make matters easier. They are both on 23 points. The other results on the weekend saw Rivoli moving up to third in Zone Two with a 3-1 win over Sporting Central Academy, while Greenvale of Manchester helped their relegation cause with 0-0 draw against Holland Police Youth Club.

Treadlight, Savannah Cross still leads in Clarendon

The Clarendon Football Association's Major League still has Treadlight and Savannah Cross in the respective zone leads, but the gap has narrowed to just two points.

Treadlight, who are unbeaten, have moved to 17 points from seven games, but they now hold just a two-point lead on Morgans Pass. Woodhall have nine to be third, followed by Bucknor on seven. Both were idle this week.

Savannah Cross have moved to 15 points and hold a two-point lead on Kempshill, who were setback by an unexpected 3-0 loss to Longsville, who have moved from the bottom to fourth in the zone. Savannah Cross were themselves hurt by a 1-1 draw against cellar team Comfort.

Treadlight's Deno Bryan currently leads the goal-scoring charts with six with the Morgans Pass pair of Duchane Campbell and Dafari Lee on five each. Rascianie Mitchell of Treadlight has four.

Central United start well in Manchester Division One

With just five of the 10 teams having completed two games, Central United have asserted themselves as early leaders in the 2018 season of the MFA/Jamalco Division One Competition.

Central United achieved their second straight win in a high scoring 5-3 win over Hope Village. Two players scored two goals. Fitzroy Coleman netted a brace for Hope Village, while Kemar Green's double inspired Central United's win. Their first win came in the 3-0 season opener against May Day. This was Hope Village's second loss.

The week's round also saw Studs FC became one of four teams to record a win. They beat Silent Hill YCC 2-0 courtesy of a second half double from Syrron Johnson. Other teams to record at least a single win are Mandeville United and Star Zone Academy.

The final game of the week saw May Day and Starz Academy playing to a 0-0 draw.

Shooters impress at Mandeville March Mania

Michael Nicholson, Michael Bradshaw and Orville Henriques shot their way to impressive title wins at the Manchester Rifle and Pistol Club's March Mania at the Lincoln Range last weekend.

Nicholson landed the Open category shooting his way to 606 points ahead of the impressive Desmond Prince, who shot at 90 per cent, the highest second-place finisher.

Bradshaw accumulated 617 points in the Production Category, to top Parnel, who scored at 84 per cent.

The Club's best shooter, Orville Henriques, topped the popular Standard field with 616 points, 70 points ahead of Alvin Amore, who pipped experienced club pro Owen Campbell by less than a percentage point. Thomas Jones (87 per cent) and female shooter Sue Ann Henriques (81 per cent) rounded out the top five.

Henriques, while winning, did not have things his own way. He started off slowly with Sue Ann Henriques and Alvin Amore winning two out of the first three stages. However, he stayed competitive until he reeled off his repertoire of physical speed and the ability to assess a stage easily, to win three of the remaining five stages.

Manchester based athletes impress at Kingston City Run

Manchester-based athletes secured key category wins in the annual Kingston City road races last weekend. The event featured run and walk races in marathon, 10k, and 5k run and walk races.

Duwell Allen won first place in the 5k walk event crossing the line in an impressive 28 minutes 26 seconds to overpower the previous record. Allen bettered by four minutes, the second placed walker from Mandeville - Gladstone Johnson, who was timed in 32:30.

Natasha McKenzie, who emerged last year as the most consistent walker on the circuit, was 10th overall, as the first female finisher in 36:33. Her win was a personal milestone, winning this event for the first time. The defending champion Paula Sinclair of UCT Steppas was third in 36:52.

Rounding off the Manchester success of the weekend was former National representative in track and field, Olivia McKoy, who was the top female finisher in the 10K road race in 47:25. Gosford Lawrence of NCU Radio was also the best placed senior in the 5K walk, finishing 11th overall in 37:28.

Jamalco Netball Open starts tomorrow

The 2018 season for the Clarendon Netball Association gets underway tomorrow at the Mineral Heights Round a bout complex with the Jamalco Open.

Twenty three teams, including three newcomers will assemble at 1:30 p.m. for the official opening ceremony, dress parade and opening rally. The event will feature five Manchester-based teams in last year's semi-finalist Team R, Holmwood A and B teams, May Day High, Porus ,and newcomer in Mile Gully.

The opening ceremony features a motivational address by former national netball coach, Annette Daley. The dress parade will feature prize money. All entrants are expected to feature in the opening rally, where games last only a few minutes in a knock-out format.

Ken's Wildflower Sports Club shock UTECH

Ken's Wildflower Sports Club out of Portmore created a major upset, as they came from behind to defeat UTECH Knights 18-16 in the JNA Open League recently. Shooter Sanjay Ruff netted four unanswered goals to give Ken's Wildflower Sports Club victory.

Old Harbour UTD, Eradication in mid-season final

Joint leaders Old Harbour United (32 points) come into their mid-season final of the Jamaica Domino Federation/ COK/Dragon Stout Portmore/St Catherine Domino League against Eradication on the back of a 300-275 loss to Braeton All Stars last Sunday.

It was Old Harbour's first loss of the season, however, they have to put that result behind them as Eradication, with sevens wins from eight games, will want to capture the first silverware of the season. There is also a consolation match for third and fourth ranked teams Links Unite and Frasziers Whip.