Sports
March 13, 2008

Elite Strickers, Mitres to face-off in the final match up of the Courts OECS Netball Competition

The champion of the Courts OECS Netball Competition will be confirmed today, with the final set of matches.

But the match up between Digicel Elite Strikers of St. Lucia, the defending champion and host club team Western Union Mitres at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex, has been projected as the decider.{{more}}

The two had played unbeaten on the first three days of competition, and were expected to come true to form to set up today’s grand finale.

Elite, the 2003 and 2005 winner, opened their account on Sunday, the opening day of the championship, with a lopsided win over Courts Eagles of Antigua and Barbuda, 76-20, and their main rival Mitres crushed little rated Survivors Anguilla, 68-11. Capisterre Ball Stars of St. Kitts edged out Cable & Wireless Aces of Dominica 42-39.

On Monday, also at the Arnos Vale Complex, Elite got the better of Ball Stars 53-39, while Mitres triumphed over Aces 52-41, and Eagles soared over Survivors 45-20.

The action shifted to the Kingstown Netball Centre on Tuesday, when Elite met Aces, Mitres faced Eagles, and Ball Stars played Survivors.

Yesterday, the Keartons Hard Court was the venue for day four of competition. Scheduled were Elite against Survivors, Mitres versus Ball Stars and Aces against Eagles.

Apart from the Mitres/Elite match tonight, Aces plays Survivors and Ball Stars meets Eagles.

The championship promised much and the impressive opening ceremony last Sunday afternoon at Arnos Vale set the platform for the five day championship.

The opening featured a march past of the six competing clubs which sang their respective National Anthems much to the delight of the moderate crowd present.

The official ceremony heard remarks from OECS Sports Co-ordinator David Peterkin, Director of Sports and Physical Education Nelson Hillocks, Polly Olliver who spoke on behalf of Minister of National Mobilisation Mike Browne, and Elwyn Phillips, Courts OECS Public Relations Officer.

Courts came to the rescue of the sub regional championship, which was last staged in Nevis in 2005 (RT)