C&W National Netball tourney opens on Sunday

Cable and Wireless will once again sponsor the National Netball Club Tournament. The telecommunications company will join hands with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association for their 13th year of unbroken relationship. And, Cable and Wireless has fortified the partnership dialing another sponsorship into this year’s tournament. {{more}}

Sunday’s opening will take place at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex and comes one month after it was first scheduled. But there will nonetheless be the usual pomp created by the anticipated colourful march off of teams from the AVESCO Club House to the Complex. Sunday’s opening will hear the customary speeches from the sponsors, netball and government officials.

A release from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association said the march off will begin at 3:30 pm, with the ceremony scheduled to commence half an hour later.

An entertainment package along with the on the court action awaits netball fans, who make this activity compulsory on their yearly sporting calendar.

And, of course the forty-three registered teams will try to out do each other to stash away the Best Banner and Best Dressed awards.

Once again, the race for supremacy will be in four divisions: Division One, Division 2A, 2B, with Division Three teams combined those of Under-16 category.

Pine Hill Buddy Pak Mitres had a double bubble last year winning both the league and knock out in Division One.

Raffles Resorts Canouan Islanders debutantes last year, won the Division 2A league and knock out titles. However, the Southern Grenadines outfit will be missing in action this year.

Also missing in action from this year’s tournament are C & R Enterprises Sion Hill One. The 2003 and 2005 Division One champion and the 2004 OECS club winner have opted out of the local showpiece.

Head of the Sion Hill Netball organisation Sylvia Clarke told SEARCHLIGHT that her flagship team’s non participation was due to the medical condition of some the key players, they are unable to field a formidable unit.

But the evergreen Vets Sports Club returns in defence of their Division 2B title. Central Medical Mitresonics won the 2006 Divisions 3 league title.

Eight teams are registered in Division One, ten in Division 2A, twelve in Division 2B and thirteen in Division 3.

Apart from the Arnos Vale Complex matches will also be played at the Kingstown Netball Center, and the strong possibility exist that Richland Park School hardcourt, the impressive Keartons Multi Purpose facility and Campden Park Hardcourt can be venues for matches as the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association seeks to decentralise the tournament.