2003 champions Frome Technical went to Merlene Ottey and won 8-0 to remain unbeaten atop Zone B of the ISSA/Digicel DaCosta Cup on Wednesday.
Frome, who also beat Green Island 5-1 on Monday, lead the zone with 15 points from their five games and have scored 32 goals while conceding only one. 11-time champions Rusea’s also have 15 points but have played one more match than Frome. They secured a 3-0 home win against Hopewell.
Zone A leaders Irwin High got their third consecutive draw, 1-1 with Maldon at home to move to 15 points from their seven outings, five points more than Green Pond in second. 12-time champions Cornwall College got a vital 2-1 win over Green Pond at Green Pond on Tuesday to close the gap between the two to just one point. Wednesday’s other zone clash saw St. James High record a 3-2 victory over Anchovy at Jarrett Park.
William Knibb now has four wins from four games to lead Zone C after a 3-0 win over Spot Valley at Spot Valley. Wednesday’s other zone game saw Herbert Morrison secure a 1-0 home win over Muschett. Cedric Titus is second in the zone and also have four wins out of four after a 5-0 win over Muschett on Monday.
Lacovia beat Munro College 1-0 at home in Zone E. Lacovia now have nine points from eight games for fourth in the zone while Munro are still second with 11 points but are now ten adrift of leaders STETHS who won their seventh match out of seven, 2-0 over Maggotty at Maggotty on Tuesday. B.B Coke also beat Sydney Pagon 3-1 at home on Tuesday and are now a single point behind Munro in third.
Belair High took over the lead in Zone F thanks to a 1-0 home win over Manchester to move to 15 points from six games, two points ahead of their opponents in second. DeCarteret College are now just one point behind Manchester in third after a 2-0 win over Bellefield at Bellefield while Mt. St. Joseph beat May Day 3-0 at home in the other zone game.
Clarendon College beat Kellits 5-1 at home for their fifth win in as many games to stretch their lead in Zone H. Edwin Allen and Lennon High played out a 0-0 draw at Lennon and are currently second and third in the zone on eight and seven points, respectively.
Vere Technical hammered Winston Jones 10-0 to move to the top of Zone N with 10 points after four games. Defending champions Garvey Maceo also have 10 points thanks to a 4-1 away win against Kemps Hill. They also beat Foga Road 3-1 at home on Monday.
In Zone O, Happy Grove hammered Fair Prospect 6-0 at Hector’s River to move to lead with eight points from four games. Titchfield also have eight points from four thanks to a 1-1 draw with Port Antonio at Carder Park.
In Zone J, Tacky moved to 15 points from seven games after a 1-1 draw with St. Mary Tech at Richmond Farm, maintaining a five-point lead over St. Mary High who beat Horace Clarke 1-0 at Horace Clarke on Tuesday. Wednesday’s other zone game saw Wycliffe Martin lose 2-3 at home to Annotto Bay High.
Central High moved to the top of Zone M with a 5-0 win over Tacius Golding at the Port Esquivel Sports Club. They now have 12 points from five games, three more than Glenmuir who have also played two less games. Glenmuir beat Old Harbour 2-0 at home on Monday.
In more Tuesday results, Manning’s dropped their first points of the season with a 0-0 draw at Godfrey Stewart in Zone D. With 19 points from seven games, they now lead Petersfield, who drew 1-1 with Black River at Black River, by seven points. Godfrey Stewart sits third with nine points while Belmont Academy are now a point behind them in fourth after a 1-0 win over Grange Hill at the Llandilo Sports Complex.
Holmwood secured a 2-1 win over Alphansus Davis High at Brooks Park to maintain their lead in Zone G. They now have 13 points from five games, six points more than Christiana High who beat Alston 5-0 at Kirkvine. Christiana have played two games less than Holmwood.
York Castle took over the lead in Zone I thanks to a 2-0 win over Browns Town at the Mount Pleasant Academy. They now have 13 points in five games to lead Oracabessa, who played out a 1-1 draw with Ocho Rios at Drax Hall, by three points.
Dinthill Technical got their eighth win in as many games to maintain top spot in Zone K. They secured a 5-1 win over Enid Bennett at the Bybrook Sports Club to move to 24 points. McGrath High remain second on 18 points from eight games after a 1-0 win over Charlemont, who are third with 15 points. Ewarton beat Guys Hill 1-0 at the Ewarton Sports Complex in the other zone game on Tuesday.
Sunshine Girls face setback with Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard’s withdrawal from Horizon Series against England
Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls have suffered a significant blow ahead of their upcoming Horizon Series against England’s Roses with the withdrawal of star goal shooter and team captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. Netball Jamaica announced today that Fowler-Nembhard, who has been a crucial presence in the goal circle, will be unable to participate in the series due to medical advice, affecting both the Manchester games on November 16 and 17 and the Jamaican leg on November 25 and 26.
Fowler-Nembhard, who has been training with the team for the past month, was anticipated to play a vital role not only in scoring but also in mentoring the new players who recently joined the senior squad. However, Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson emphasized the importance of prioritizing Fowler-Nembhard’s health. “Netball Jamaica is focused on her health and well-being and will provide updates as necessary regarding her condition. Romelda Aiken-George will instead join the team in England for the series,” Robinson said.
Sunshine Girls’ head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry expressed disappointment over the unexpected loss of Fowler-Nembhard but reinforced the team’s commitment to supporting her recovery. “Jhaniele is the captain and a very important player for Jamaica, and so we are quite disappointed that she will not be able to participate in the Horizon Series. However, our priority at this time is her health, and we are committed to supporting our players every step of the way. Additionally, we remain confident in the strength of our squad as we move forward with the series,” said Henry.
As the Sunshine Girls prepare to depart for England, Netball Jamaica extended their gratitude to fans for their understanding and continued support, assuring them that the team is ready for what promises to be a highly competitive series despite this setback.
Heart and skill: Role model Shanice Beckford targets successful Vitality Horizon series against England
Having spent years perfecting her game and inspiring others through her journey, Shanice Beckford views a return to the international stage for the Vitality Horizon Netball Series as another opportunity to parade her skills in front of aspiring players both at home and in England.
In fact, few players are as excited to hit the court as Beckford, especially after a lengthy break from international action, as the upcoming four-match series against England Roses will be the first time the Sunshine Girls have assembled since their bronze medal win at last year’s Netball World Cup.
Beckford’s enthusiasm reflects the strong bond within the team, which is a key factor as they prepare to face their fierce rivals.
England will host the first two games scheduled for November 16 and 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester, with Jamaica set to host the last two encounters on November 25 and 26 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
“I’m happy to be back with the team for another cycle,” Beckford told SportsMax.Tv, radiating positivity.
“Kicking off our first international series with two matches at home is a great feeling. It’s always good vibes when the team gets together so I am excited to be back with the girls and ready to give of my best as usual,” she added.
Beckford’s passion, resilience, and aspirations for the future stem from the fact that she went from humble beginnings in the inner city to being a familiar face in Jamaican netball, as she was determined to break stereotypes and pursue a path beyond her immediate circumstances.
“Growing up in the inner city, I just didn’t want to be treated as stereotype, so netball became my escape, offering me not just the sport but a way to build connections and dream beyond my surroundings,” Beckford, who currently represents West Coast Fever in the Australian Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, shared.
Though her career spanning over 10 years is marked by remarkable moments such as winning three Commonwealth Games medals, three Fast5 medals, and a Netball World Cup medal, for Beckford, her greatest achievement isn’t a particular medal or title but the journey itself—the connections, skills, and personal growth she has experienced along the way.
Still, her path hasn’t always been easy as injuries, disappointing matches, and times of self-doubt have all tested Beckford’s resilience. However, she welcomed successes and setbacks as part of the transformative process, with humility being her guiding principle.
“Even the tough moments have taught me the importance of perseverance and sportsmanship and I cherish this journey and all that it has brought into my life. It feels like I was destined to walk this path, so I will always remain humble, no matter what, and trust the process regardless,” Beckford stated.
The versatile 29-year-old goal-attack, who has earned the love and support of fans worldwide, is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with England, as her agility, sharp shooting, and strategic play have seen her win numerous star player of the game awards against them.
As such, the longstanding rivalry between the two nations not only brings a familiar intensity but also makes Beckford and her number four-ranked Sunshine Girls teammates even more motivated for the challenge as they seek to topple the now number two-ranked England and make a move up the rankings.
“Facing off against England, our long-standing rivals, always brings an electrifying atmosphere and intense competition. Each match against them isn’t just about the battles on the court but is also an opportunity to see our growth as a team,” Beckford declared.
“It’s going to be a good matchup against the Roses. They’re coming off a series win against New Zealand and had decent competition with the Australia Diamonds. All four matches will be tough, but we are ready to secure a favourable outcome at the end,” she noted.
Finally, with this series marking the start of another four-year cycle in her career, Beckford remains focused on her personal and professional growth, with her ultimate ambition being simple yet powerful—continue inspiring others.
“I have been pushing myself to be at peak performance; I’ve put in a lot of work, thanks to my trainers, and I feel ready to compete. The aim is always to be at my best at all times, ensure I am sharpening my skillset, and get ready for another season in SSN,” she explained, emphasizing her dedication to continuous improvement.
“I will continue working hard to not only see where this journey takes me, but more importantly, to continue serving as an inspiration to young athletes who see me as a role model,” Beckford ended
Cavalier field seven players in Concacaf Caribbean Cup semis Best XI
Jamaican champions Cavalier FC had a number of standout performances in the recently-concluded Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-finals, and so it comes as no surprise that seven of their players are named in the organiser’s Best Eleven (XI) from those fixtures.
Cavalier, who are set to contest the two-leg finals against Dominican Republic counterparts Cibao FC on November 26 and December 3, will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form to cop the Caribbean Cup on this occasion. They lost last year’s final to Suriname’s Robinhood.
Among those that had standout performances for Cavalier are Suriname-born Shaquille Stein and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kaile Auvray, along with defenders Richard King and Jeovanni Laing.
The 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup Best XI for the semifinal fixtures is:
Goalkeeper
Miguel Lloyd, Cibao FC – With four saves in two games, Lloyd helped decide a tightly contested series against Haiti’s Real Hope to help Cibao reach the final. He had a clean sheet in the second leg to seal a 4-2 win on aggregate.
Defenders
Jimmy Guillaume, Real Hope FA – Guillaume was active along the defensive line for Real Hope in the series against Cibao. He was one of the most effective passers of the semifinals with an 88% accuracy.
Richard King, Cavalier FC – King contributed to two clean sheet performances in their contest against Dominican Republic outfit, Moca FC. He had two steals and five shots in 190 minutes to help Cavalier reach the final.
Jeovanni Laing, Cavalier FC – Laing had three steals and one shot in 180 minutes to help Cavalier keep consecutive clean sheets and advance to the final.
Christopher Ainsworth, Cavalier FC – Ainsworth scored a goal to help Cavalier to victory in the second leg. He also had one steal for a defensive line that did not concede in the semifinals.
Midfielders
Rivaldo Correa, Cibao FC – Correa added two goals to his tally in the semifinals, along with one steal, to help Cibao reach the final with a 4-2 aggregate.
Jean López, Cibao FC – Lopez struck the opening goal of the series against Real Hope and contributed one assist and two steals.
Juan Díaz, Cibao FC – Díaz scored a goal and added three steals to help Cibao advance to the final, overcoming Real Hope.
Dwayne Atkinson, Cavalier FC – Atkinson continued his offensive rhythm in the current campaign with one goal, 10 attempts and two assists.
Forwards
Shaquille Stein, Cavalier FC – Stein struck a hat-trick to help Cavalier advance to the final while also taking the lead in the Golden Boot race.
Kaile Auvray, Cavalier FC – Auvray scored a brace, including the series-winning goal, to help Cavalier return to another Caribbean Cup final.
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