Vipers, Flames in semi clashes

Hopewell Vipers and Central Flames will challenge MoBay Boys Club Warriors and UCC Blazers, respectively, in the WBA/Fruta basketball league semi-finals at the MoBay Cricket Club this afternoon.

Central Flames versus UCC Blazers is at 6 p.m. and Hopewell Vipers take on MoBay Boys Club Warriors at 7:30.

In Tuesday's matches, Hopewell Vipers defeated City Knights 56-46. Kirk Blake, with 17 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals, led the way for the winners, along with Dwight Reid (11 points, six rebounds, three steals) and Gavin Forbes (10 points, six rebounds).

Lemar Mitchell scored 10 points and had two assists for the losers.

In the other game, Central Flames Innercity defeated Avalanche 89-51 with Julian Walker leading the way for the winners with 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and seven steals. He was supported by Craig Dorman (25 points, five rebounds, four assists).

Volleyball serves off today

The new volleyball season serves off today with the president's rally scheduled to be staged at G.C. Foster College.

The two-day rally will start at 9 a.m. each day.

This is a precursor to the club league, which serves off on November 8, also at the G.C. Foster College.

Other major events on the volleyball calendar are the UWI Invitational Tournament (November 28-30) at the UWI Gymnasium and the Venus Invitational Tournament (March 20-22, 2009), which will be held at the G.C. Foster College.

Jamaica will host round two of the World Championships men's qualifiers during the period May 17-24, 2009, and one leg of the North, Central America and the Caribbean (NORCECA) Beach Tournament from June 24-29, 2009.

Additional information is posted on the volleyball association's website at www.jamaicavolleyball.org.

Kellits and Holmwood lead

New kids on the block Kellits and Holmwood girls are the leaders of the Burger King/Jamdammers Running Club Road Race Series.

Following the introduction of a team of volunteer managers, led by veteran journalist and track and field enthusiast, Laurie Foster, the Kellits High School boys' team has done well so far this road race season.

The northern Clarendon squad, which is coached by G.C. Foster graduate Calvin James, is tucked away in the hilly terrain of the parish and the cool climate encourages middle and long-distance running. Their most sparkling moment came in 2006 at the Carifta Games when Kirk Brown, now assistant to James and still in training, was crowned the 5000m champion.

Group manager Foster, who formed Team Kellits, is pleased with the performances so far. "When I brought my concept to Kellits, it was against the background as the saying went 'nutten nah gwan at Kellits', and it is to my personal comfort, although there is so much to come, that things are going as well as they are."

The points standing, after two races, sees the school on 19 points - ahead of Edwin Allen and Holmwood (17 each).

In the girls' category, Holmwood, a more establised team, having won the national Girls Champs six years in a row, are on top with 19 points ahead of Edwin Allen (18) and Bellefield (14).

KSAMLA Masters take on Lion King

The Kingston and St. Andrew Masters League Football Association (KSAMLA) All Masters team will play a practice game against Lion King Masters at the Bell Chung Oval this afternoon, starting at 4:00.

This will be the All Masters' final prep game before the KSAMLA Hall of Fame Game against the Kingston College Old Boys' Masters on November 1 at the Barbican Oval. The Hall of Fame game will be preceded by the induction of former Jamaica international Trevor 'Jumpy' Harris into the KSAMLA Hall of Fame. Harris will join former Jamaica player and national coach Peter 'Jair' Cargill and former KSAMLA treasurer Ruddy Thelwell as inductees. Cargill and Thelwell were inducted, posthumously, last year.

The 23 members of the 2008 KSAMLA All-masters squad for today's clash with Lion King are: Marvin Chin (Constant Spring), Nyron Prawl (Santos), Robert Powell (Nautica), Donovan Evans (Christian Ambassadors), Dean Robinson (Lion King), Desmond Taylor (Kush), Daniel Riley (Boys' Town), Raymond Smith (Santos), Mark Miller (JDF), Lance Craig (Kush), Patrick Miller (Packers), Ian Burnett (Harbour View), Andrew Thomas (St. George's), Garfield Coke (Park Rovers), David Laylor (Christian Ambassadors), Stafford Fong (Barbican), Donovan Nicholson (Nautica), Howard Trout (Washington Strikers), Paul Smith (Constant Spring), Gary Francis (Shortwood), Rudolph Speid (Constant Spring), Lynch Tyrell (Kush) and John Massey (Harbour View).

Sunny Hill advance

Defending parish champions Heartease of St Thomas crashed out of the SDC's National Community cricket competition last weekend when rain prevented play in their quarter-final against Sunny Hill at Heartease Cricket Ground.

According to the competition rules, if a match ends in a 'no result', due to unfavourable conditions such as rain, the teams would then do a 'bowl off' in which five members of each team try to hit the stumps from a distance of 22 yards (the normal pitch length). The team with the most hits wins but, if there is a tie, there would be a 'sudden death bowl off', in which the first person from either team that hits the wicket wins the match for his side.

Such was the fate of Heartease in St Thomas, losing the bowl off to Sunny Hill, who move on to the semi-final stage to be played next Sunday at Heartease Cricket Ground.

In the first match, played before rain ended the day's play, Yallahs trounced Spring Garden by 59 runs. Yallahs batted first and made 141 for six in 15 overs. The number of overs was reduced to 15 per side after overnight rain delayed the scheduled 10:00 a.m. start of play. Kenroy Henriques top scored with 44.

In reply, Spring Garden seemed totally out of sorts from the first delivery. Five of their batsmen failed to score, as Leonard Cato recorded the first hat-trick of the competition. He took four wickets for six runs off two overs. Spring Garden lost nine wickets for 82 runs in their 15 overs.

GC Foster College netball symposium

The CITE Degree group of the G.C. Foster College will host a netball symposium on November 5 at the school's courts.

Primary Schools from the St Catherine area will participate in this symposium, which will start at 9 a.m.

Presenters will be Simone Forbes, Romelda Aiken, Elaine Davis and Nicole Aiken, members of Jamaica's national netball team. President Marvia Bernard and Nadine Bryan will also be on hand.

G.C. Foster College's principal, Yvonne Kong, will also take part in the opening of the symposium.

A short netball rally will be held after the symposium.

Wray & Nephew skittles finals

Defending champions Rowe's Strikers and Eastern All-Stars will meet in the Jamaica Skittles Federation's Wray & Nephew Premier League final tomorrow at the JPS Sports Club, Ruthven Road. The action starts at 2:00 p.m. with the Major League final between Waltham Strikers and House of Peace followed by the Premier League final at 4:30 p.m. The presentation follows.

Although Eastern All-Stars won all three clashes with Rowe's Strikers in preliminary round matches and should start favourites, Rowe's Strikers will be coming pretty confident, knowing that they are a big occasion team.

They will look mainly to front-line players Raval Montague (captain), Winston 'Jubbie' Nevins, Donovan Ashman, Garfield 'Milligram' Smith, Roy Facey and Karyl 'Chassy' Walker to pave the way for victory, while Eastern will counter with former singles champions Fitzroy 'Paul' Blair (captain), Hubert Fletcher, Nehemiah 'Fatta' Henry and Keith Barrett, as well as experienced players Sidney Carrington. and Lloyd 'Tiger' Smith.

Meanwhile, Cherry's Strikers clipped Mystix 6-5 in the Premier League's third-place playoff last Sunday, while Mister C beat The Dip 6-1 to claim third money in the Major League.

Business House five-a-side finals

The divisional finals of the Business House five-a-side football league take place this afternoon at the NWC playing field, Mona, starting at 2:30.

In the Division Two final, Scotia Bank, who won the KO title on Thursday and are unbeaten in 23 matches this season, will face Courts Distributors Centre. At 3:30, Jamaica Broilers oppose Geon Contractors in the Division One final.

The presentation of trophies and prizes will follow the Division One final. Guest speaker will be former FIFA referee Peter Prendergast, now chairman of the JFF Referees Association. Entertainment will be provided by recent Digicel Rising Stars winner, Cameal Davis.

Portsmouth, MegaMart clash

Portsmouth and MegaMart's semi-final Petcom/MegaMart Portmore Metropolitan Cricket League match will be replayed tomorrow at the Bridgeport Sports ground at 11 a.m.

Last week's encounter was called off because of heavy rain with Portsmouth battling on 60-4 in the 14th over in reply to MegaMart's 132-8.

The other semi-final will also be replayed.

In that match, Colours International battled to 107 all out in 28.5 overs, with Bryan Latore making an attractive 46, and veteran Kerry Scott 21, against the bowling of Denworth Barber, 3-18, and David Morgan, 2-6. In reply, Ken's Wildflower made it past Colours International's total but the game was deemed null and void forcing a replay.