VITA MALT MAPLE WHIPS TWILIGHT TRADING X-CEED, 34-29

Vita Malt Maple was crowned double champions last Sunday evening when they secured the Division One knock out title of the Digicel national club tournament.{{more}}

The 57-year-old Maple club whipped the three year old X-Ceed Sports Club, 34-29, in the final, played at the Kingstown Netball Centre, as the curtains came down on the 2008 version.

In what more closely resembled a practice match between two groups of “sweaters”, Twilight Trading X-Ceed led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter, but Maple pulled back to finish the half 17-13, in the ascendancy. It was 24-19 at the end of the third, and they finally romped home in a lack lustre display of Netball.

For Maple, Thelma Foster scored 20 from 37 attempts, and Janette Toney 14 from 29.

For X-Ceed, veteran player Joanne Ballantyne sank 13 from 24, Asanta Kydd, 12 from 17, and Helen Harry, 0 from 2.

Before them, French Verandah X -Ceed took the Division 3 Knock Out title, beating Barrouallie Two, 38-16, and Barrouallie went home empty handed as Yanja Young Strugglers overcame them, 43-28, to capture the division 2A title.

Completing the knock out titles, Minors Construction Calliaqua United won the Division 2B title.

Like Maple, French Verandah X-Ceed doubled up as they won the Division 3 league title, with Nice Radio Clinchers second, and Barrouallie Sports Association, third.

Standard Shippers Falcons won Division 2A of the league, Barrouallie Sports Association, second, Green Hill Youths, third.

Bop Clinchers Division secured Division 2B, Budgmart TRAC was second, and C&R Enterprises Sion Hill, third.

Finishing second in the Division One league race was Western Union Mitres, with C & R Enterprises Sion Hill, third.

And, the closing ceremony followed the trend of a glossless occasion, as several of the teams and other recipients of awards were not on show.

Goal Shooter Skiddy Francis- Crick, of Vita Malt Maple, for the umpteenth time, won the Most Goals trophy in the Senior Division. She scored 395 goals, and recorded the Best Shooting Average, 87.2.

The tall Marry Ann Frederick, of French Verandah X-Ceed, followed the experienced Francis -Crick, copping that award in the junior division, for the second year running. Fredrick, who was the top shooter at the Caribbean Netball Association’s Under-16 competition earlier this year , sank 356 goals.

Also among the awards was Ruth Ann Williams, also of French Veranda X-Ceed, who for the second straight year was adjudged the Best Centre Court Player among the juniors. Zipporah Millington, of NCB Valley Netters, was the recipient for the seniors.

Maple’s Roseclair Hall stashed away the Best Defender award, with Naomi Williams, of Barrouallie Sports Association, copping the award in the junior category.

One player from each of the participating teams received her team’s Most Valuable Player Award. Golden Girls Vets was named the Most Disciplined Team. (RT)