Couples, Eltham on top in Sandals/Beaches Community Netball
OCHO RIOS: COUPLES TOWER Isle slammed St Mary Police Club 25-11, and Eltham defeated Conquest 32 to 12 as action continued in the Sandals/Beaches Ocho Rios Eltham Netball Community league recently.
The opening match at the Eltham Community Centre started out as an evenly contested encounter until Couples turned up the heat to surge away from their opponents. Couples utilised some slick passing and dead-eye shooting to score an emphatic victory. Jay Johnson was the star of the hotel team-scoring 23 goals from 25 attempts, while Chevaughn Brown netted 11 of 16 for the Police Youth Club.
In the feature encounter, Eltham were in scintillating form as Kimberly Hudson scored 19 from 22 attempts and was well supported by Kurt Dale 13 of 16. Conquest were led by Raheem Chambers, who shot 15 from 21 and Sanjay Lugg 3 of 7.
FULL OF PRAISES
Eltham team captain Kurt Dale was full of praises for his team, which he said was peaking at the right time and had a great shot at winning the title. He praised Sandals and Beaches Ocho Rios hotels, which comprise Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, and Beaches Ocho Rios, for their sponsorship of the event, which was providing an invaluable outlet for community netball talent.
“Thanks to Sandals and Beaches, our youths are finding an outlet for their talents, and we are so grateful for this opportunity,” Dale said. “We were in dire need of help to get the league going, and now we are so happy for the opportunity afforded us to play the game we love. Each Sunday, the entire community comes out to watch and support the players.”
Sandals Resorts Regional Public Relations Manager for the Ocho Rios region Ian Spencer noted that the company was pleased to be giving back to the community in the area of sports.
“There is so much we do in our community outreach programme, but sports has a special place in our hearts as it helps channel the energies of young people, keeping them away from less-productive activities,” Spencer observed.
The regional public relations manager thanked the three general managers in the area – Brian Roper, Ramel Sobrino, and Arnold Nugent for their vision in assisting the community league, saying “We recently upgraded the Eltham Community Centre through a joint project between the Sandals Foundation and Jet Blue Airlines, and we are so happy to see the place being properly utilised.”
Scores in previous matches were Bethel Strikers 26 to Unity Strikers 12; Vixen 28 to Couples Tower Isle 20; and Eltham Racers 44 to St Mary Police Youth Club 6.
Competition takes a break for the Christmas holidays before resuming with a full slate of matches.