Another Division One reduction in National Netball Club Tournament

Only four outfits will contest Division One of the Lime 4G National Netball Club Tournament, which opened last Saturday at the Kingstown Netball Centre.

This represents a reduction by one team from last year’s five, as Valley Netters, a customary participant, is not in the mix.{{more}}

It then leaves defending double champions Western Union Mitres, Maple, Twilight Trading X-Ceed and Dr Jules Ferdinand ASCO One to vie for title honours.

Valley Netters followed the departure of RSVG Police, who had opted out since the 2014 edition.

Reports suggest that organizers would be forced to have the Division One teams play two rounds of competition.

Last Saturday’s opening also saw, for the first time in many years, Sion Hill among the list of teams. A former Division One team, Sion Hill competed with some success in Division Two for several years, but took a sabbatical until 2016.

Recognizing the decline in the sport for some time, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil Mc Kie, speaking at the opening ceremony, called on president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association Doris Mc Intosh to devise a plan to address the slide.

In calling for netball to retake pride of place on the national sports programme, Mc Kie advised: “But the only how you can do that is if you have a clear plan, a clear strategy of how you (are) going to get there … You are not going to get there by just having competitions and hoping for the best.”

But whilst the administrators and other stakeholders knock their heads together, 27 teams stashed in the four divisions will be battling for the respective titles.

Joining the four Division One teams are nine in Division Two, seven in Division Three and seven in Division Four.

Those listed in Division Two are Aycees Nice Radio Clinchers, Hillview Barrouallie, Dutch Lady Clinchers, French Verandah X- Ceed, Cash Wiz Green Hill Sports and Cultural Club, Maple, Prime Consulting 3 J’s Valley Strikers, Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem and Star Girls.

Stacked in Division Three are Beta Farms Bequia, Everready Future Stars, Imperial Pharmacy Bequia, Irie Travel Vets, Layou Golden Girls, SVG General Services Strikers and Third Eye Security X-Ceed.

And, competing for honours in Division Four are ASCO Sports Club, Dr Ackie Pacers, Lime Girls’ High School, SVG General Services Maple, New Era Pepper Stars, Prime Consulting 3 J’s Valley Strikers and the Thomas Saunders Secondary School.

SVG General Services Maple won both the best dressed and best banner awards in last Saturday’s adjudication, which is one of the highlights of the annual opening of the National Netball Tournament.

And, in the opening Division Three fixture, Beta Farms Bequia edged out SVG General Strikers 18-17, while in the feature match, Windward defeated Leeward 50-49.(RT)