Leaders Racers, Sharpes clash in Elite league

Last year's beaten finalists St Catherine Racers and St James Sharpes will meet in today's top-of-the-table clash in the Berger Paints Elite League at the Leila Robinson Courts starting at 6:15 p.m.

In the day's other games, Clarendon Gaters will battle defending champions Kingston Hummingbirds in the opening match at 6 p.m. before the Manchester Spurs oppose the St Ann Orchids at 7:30 p.m.

The match between the Racers and the Sharpes should be very competitive as both teams are evenly matched in all departments. The Racers lead the standings with 15 points, which includes five wins and one defeat.

They are followed by the Sharpes and the Gaters on 10 points each, the Spurs and the Orchids (nine each), while the Hummingbirds are at the bottom of the table on zero.

The Racers will hold the slight advantage heading into today's encounter after their victory over the Sharpes in the first round.

comfortable victory

The Christopher Smart-coached Racers, coming off a comfortable 44-24 victory over the Orchids in their last game. Smart said they will be seeking a comprehensive victory today.

"We will be pulling out all the stops to secure a victory in this game," said Smart.

He added: "I expect the Sharpes to come out very strong because they have lost a couple of games, and so they will be looking for a victory against us."

National representatives Malysha Kelly, Khadijah Williams and Ann-Kay Griffiths along with LaDonna Lamonth will lead the Racers' charge to victory.

Sharpes, on the other hand, went down 37-36 to the Gaters in their last match. However, head coach Jennifer Brown, said she is confident her team will rebound.

"Racers have proven over the past couple of weeks that they are a force to be reckoned with," said Brown. "We have done our homework on them because we knew where we went wrong the last time, and so we plan on making the adjustment in this game," she said.

"I think my defenders have been doing extremely well, but our attackers are not taking care of the ball, and if we can get it right in all areas, then we will come out on top," Brown stated.

The Sharpes will be depending heavily on national players Paula Thompson, Sasher-Gaye Henry, Deneen Taylor, along with former national player Jodi-Ann Ffrench, to lead them to victory.