In Your Neighbourhood

New York-based Lacrosse coach in the Island

Coach Neil Davis from New York, USA, is expected to land in the Island this weekend on a month-long visit. While in Jamaica he will run lacrosse clinics and oversee the North Street Cup competition. Male students from Wolmer's Boys', St George's College, Holy Trinity High and Kingston College should are slated to benefit and the practise schedules and fixtures are to be finalised.

Lacrosse has being gaining momentum in high schools in Jamaica in recent times, especially with a league being contested by some of Jamaica's top high schools. It is a contact team sport played between two teams using a small rubber ball. The objective is to get the ball up to your opponents' goal, while using a meshed lacrosse stick to carry and shoot the ball past a goalie.

The Jamaica Lacrosse Association believes the sport captures the spirit of the Jamaican people. The game is fast, high tempo, fun, constantly flowing and celebrates creativity and is dubbed in international quarters as "the fastest game on two feet".

PFM Development upset

defending champs

Power of Faith Ministries (PFM) Development team upset their brother team and defending champion, Power of Faith International, by six wickets in the opening game of a double-header in the PFM Twenty20 Church Cricket League at Bridgeport Sports Ground last Saturday.

PFM International batted first and were bowled out for 82 in 13 overs, as Leon Edwards top-scored with 23 runs. PFM Development's Fidel McGregor took 3-20 from four overs and Demar Johnson 2-34 from four overs. In reply, PFM raced to victory in 15 overs. Demar Johnson (27) and Aaron Graham (16) made most runs, while Junior Stewart and Aston Canegon got a wicket apiece for PFM International.

In the second game between Portmore Gospel Assembly (PGA) and Faith Temple New Testament, Faith Temple won by eight wickets. The PGA, which won the toss and took first strike, amassed 116 all out in 20 overs, with Damion Bryce hitting a top score of 68. Simon Clarke, 3-17 from three overs and Bryan Brown, 2-2 from one over, took most wickets for Faith Temple. Faith Temple successfully chased down the total for the loss of only two wickets. Roshane Baugh (60) set up the win for Faith Temple and Bancroft White chipped in with 20 not out.

The league continues today with two games. At 10 a.m., PFM Development versus PGA and at 2 p.m., it's PFM International vs Faith Temple.

INSPORTS Community Football League final

postponed

The final of the Portmore leg of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Community Football League between Greater Portmore Strikers and Christian Gardens has being postponed and a new date will be announced shortly.

Greater Portmore should have played Christian Gardens last Sunday at the Dunbeholden playing field. However, the final was postponed, for reasons 'beyond the control' of the organisers.

The finalists booked their spots after narrow semi-final victories recently at the Cedar Grove community playing field. Christian Gardens booted Dunbeholden 5-4 on penalties, after playing to 1-1 stalemate through regulation and extra-time. Jevonne Munroe (64th) scored for Christian Gardens and Ricardo Boothe (21st) netted for Dunbeholden in relegation time. Greater Portmore Strikers edged East West Strikers 6-5 on penalties, after both teams were locked 1-1 after full and extra-time. Mario Wilson (49th) equalised for Greater Portmore, after Jevoh Robert (30th) had given East West Strikers the initial lead.

Right Stuff, Eradication do

battle

Right Stuff will want to keep pace with leaders Spit Fyah, when they play host to Eradication in the Jamaica Domino Federation City of Kingston Credit Union-sponsored Portmore Domino League match tomorrow at Cedar Grove, beginning at 11 a.m.

In others games, Spit Fyah play away to Exceptional International, Masterpiece are at home to Correctional Services, Chedwin Strikers battle Memory Lane, Felluchie Strikers welcome Spring Village, Unity Strikers oppose Passagefort United, Waterhouse United based in Passagefort entertain Ken's Wildflower, Garveymeade await Fort International at their home ground, Garveymeade Sports Club and Soursop Tree host Highlight Strikers.

Ricam cap first Manchester Major League title

Ricam became the newest addition to the roster of teams which have won the Manchester Major League, when they defeated three-time champions Downs 3-0 in the final earlier this week.

In addition to prize money and the Magnum/Captain's Bakery Trophy, Ricam will get the chance to participate in the upcoming JB Rum South Central Confed Super League playoffs.

This competition caters for the four parish champions from St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, as well as the respective runners-up.

This means beaten Manchester finalists, Downs, will have further incentive to reboot their season.

Having come through a tough semi-final in which they needed penalty kicks to defeat Mile Gully, Ricam were assertive early and won the first-half honours when their national youth player, Maxwell Robinson, scored in the 12th minute for a 1-0 lead.

Robinson increased Ricam's lead to 2-0 when he scored again in the 70th minute. Romario Rochester's goal in time added on sealed the title.

Jamalco are Clarendon

champions

The Jamalco football team successfully defended their hold on the Clarendon FA/Captain's Bakery Major League, when they defeated New Bowens FC in a penalty shoot-out at the Effortville Community Centre. It was the third straight year they were winning the Clarendon title. In fact, last year they took the double by winning the knockout title.

In the previous week, Jamalco had defeated Kemps Hill FC 3-1 in the semi-final, while New Bowens created the upset of the competition when they defeated former Red Stripe Premier League campaigners Sporting Central Academy 1-0 in extra time.

The final between Jamalco and New Bowens marked the third time the two were meeting for the season. They were in the same preliminary group and on two occasions, Jamalco won. However this time was different as at the end of regulation and extra-time the score was 0-0.

It took the dreaded penalty shoot-out to decide the winner, thanks mainly to their goalkeeper, Sheldon "Budgie" Mills, who produced three brilliant saves to earn Jamalco victory.

Starz Academy, Technical Strikers in Division One final

Many-time football champions of Manchester, Los Perfectos, lost in their bid to gain qualification to the Major League competition after they were beaten 2-1 by Technical Strikers in the semi-finals of the Jamalco-sponsored Division One competition. All three goals were scored in the second half.

Rashawn Walcott scored the first of Technical Strikers' goals in the 46th minute, Renardo Barrett then made it 2-0 in the 53rd, while Jason Givans' 82nd minute strike proved to be only a consolidation for Los Perfectos.

Despite the loss, fans have generally viewed as positive Los P's re-engagement with Manchester football, this year after a 15-year absence.

Starz Academy joined Technical Strikers in the final following a penalty shoot-out win over Star Zone, after the two had battled to a 1-1 draw. Interestingly, both finalists lead the preliminary round standings.