St Thomas football kicks off

The St Thomas Captain's Bakery Major League competition will kick off this afternoon at 3:00 with an opening ceremony and dress parade at York Sports Complex.

The first game of the competition will follow the dress parade at 4 p.m., with defending champions Lyssons Youth Club up against newly promoted team from Division Two, Sunrise Youth Club.

Ten teams will participate in the competition, playing on a home and away basis. The top two teams at the end of round one will clash in an end-of-round final. The top four teams at the end of round two will meet in the semi-finals.

The sponsorship is the same as last season, $1.25 million. This will be used to offset referees' fees and other expenditure, including assistance to the clubs, prize money and administrative costs.

This is the sixth year of sponsorship by The Captain's Bakery. The initial agreement in 2002-2003 season was for three years.

St Thomas Football Association, in a release, hailed The Captain's Bakery for its continued sponsorship in an environment that is unfriendly to the business sector.

Prep school football semis today

The semi-finals of the Bigga/JISA prep schools football Alberga Cup will be played today. Lannaman's will face Hydel at 1:30 p.m. before Vaz oppose Wolmer's at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at the UWI's Mona Bowl.

In Wednesday's final set of quarter-final matches, Lannaman's, the defending champions, played out a 1-1 draw with Mona, and Hydel, last season's runners-up, stopped Holy Childhood 5-1.

Wolmer's edged St Andrew 1-0 and Vaz, the day's fourth qualifiers, beat Sts Peter and Paul 4-0.

In the day's other games, which turned out to be of academic interest, Belair, led by four goals from Nicholas Collins and a double from Joseph Saby, thrashed Ardenne 7-0 while Quest defeated Trafalgar 3-0.

Junior chess

The Jamaica Chess Federation will be staging the 2009 National Age Group Chess Chess Championship for players in the under 18, 16, 14, 12, 10 and 8 age groups this weekend - today and tomorrow - at the RBTT Bank Headquarters in New Kingston.

The championships will be open to juniors who were under the age of 18 years prior to January 1. Late registration is scheduled to end at 9 a.m. today at the venue.

The reigning champions in the various age groups are as follows: U-18 - Damion Davy, U-18 Girls - Margoe Williams, U-16 - Stuart James, U-16 Girls - Ariel Barrett, U-14 - Tewana Mellace, U-14 Girls - Jeana Lindo, U-12 - Tewana Mellace, U-12 Girls - Sheanel Gardener, U10 - Douglas Byfield, U10 Girls - Sheneal Gardener, U-8 - Sheanel Gardener, and U-8 Girls - Sheanel Gardener.

York are champions

York are the champions of the James Robertson-sponsored St Thomas Football Association knockout football competition.

In the final played at York Oval, York ran away easy 4-1 winners over Yallahs.

Kemar Smith (8th), Lennox Cargill (40th), Miquel Ricketts (81st), along with an own goal from Kemar Williams (67th) accounted for York's four goals.

Dushane Robinson netted Yallahs' consolation goal in the 69th minute.

The champions, York, walked away with $40,000, while runners-up Yallahs took home $20,000. Third-place (Prospect $15,000) and fourth place (Bath $10,000) also collected cash prize.

Ramble top netball

Ramble Primary were crowned champions of the 2009 James Bond Beach-sponsored primary schools netball league following their victory over first-time qualifiers Iona Preparatory.

An evenly contested first half ended 5-5 but Ramble Primary, who were last year's beaten finalists, eventually came away 14-10 victors. The league's leading goalscorer, Thando-Lee Green of Iona Preparatory, netted all 10 goals from 15 attempts but wasn't enough to save her team from defeat. Shantell Allen netted 11 from 15 attempts for the winners.

Goodwill netball

St James Development Squad cruised into the quarter-finals of the St James Goodwill Open League Netball competition with a comfortable 19-7 victory over Sting.

Led by Princess Brown, 23 goals, Rita Spence, four, and Allisa Dawkins, two, the Donovan Doyley-coached team became the sixth qualifiers alongside Angels 'A', Starlight Eagles, Angels 'B', Lime 'A' and Queens.

The remaining two spots will be filled later today when Angelets will seek to take the second spot in Zone C at the expense of Tigers, at 2:30 p.m. Pacers 'B' (3 pts) and Starlight 'B' (3 pts) must win against Lime 'A' and Angels 'B' at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., respectively, to set up a three-way tie for third place in Zone B with William Knibb (6 pts). Goal difference will separate the teams for a spot in the quarter-finals.

In another game, Queen's took charge of Zone C with a comprehensive 27-9 victory over their lowly placed sister team, Tigers.

Oracabessa take title

Oracabessa Primary successfully defended their James Bond Beach-sponsored Primary Schools football championship title.

In the final played on Thursday at the James Bond Beach Complex in Oracabessa, St Mary, Oracabessa thrashed Labyrinth 3-0.

Two first half goals by captain Robert Ramgeet, in the 15th and 21st minutes, and a second-half strike by midfielder Romaine Chin ended the hopes of Labyrinth Primary.

Colours, Portsmouth battle for Becca Cup

Defending champions Colours International and Portsmouth will battle for the Tony Becca Cup tomorrow morning at 11:00 in the final of the Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum/Portmore Cricket League.

In last week's semi-finals, Colours defeated Reid's Pen by five-wickets with only a ball to spare in an exciting match at the Bridgeport sports ground.

Portsmouth easily defeated Belmont by 72 runs at the Ken's Wildflower sports ground in the other semi-final.

Scores at Bridgeport: Reid's Pen, 169-8 (35), Victor Barracks 38, Ryan Francis 33, Adrian Moulton 29, Dennis Bulli 26; Delroy Morgan 2-29, Kerry Scott, 2-34. Colours, 170-5 (34.4), Kemar Marshall 44, Bryan Latore 33 not, Robert Weir 26, Delroy Morgan 26; Bulli 2-26.

Scores at Ken's Wildflower: Portsmouth 204-7 (35), Delbert Gayle 38, Mario Downer 30. Belmont 132 all out. The winners tomorrow will become the only team to win the cup twice.

Portmore swamp Newland 12-0

Premier League outfit Portmore United had the biggest margin of victory in the round of 16 stage of the St Catherine Credit Union-sponsored knockout football competition on Wednesday, when they swamped Newland 12-0 at Ferdie Neita Park.

In other games, Rodwood whipped Invaders 4-1, Bodles edged Albion 1-0, Naggo Head beat D B Baasovak 2-0, De la Vega got past Black Lions 2-0, Royal Lakes edged Frazer's Whip 2-1, Rivoli clipped Wanderers 1-0, Meadows eliminated Dunbeholden 1-0. The competition continues next Tuesday with quarter-final games.

Wray & Nephew skittles final

Eagles will oppose surprise Division Two campaigners Mister C from Spanish Town in the Wray & Nephew White Overproof skittles final at Mystix Sports Bar, 98 3/4 Hagley Park Road tomorrow, starting at noon.

The action will commence with the third-place play-off between losing semi-finalists Mystix and Starliner, followed by the final and the presentation of trophies and prizes.

The winning team will receive $70,000 in addition to the championship trophy, second $40,000 and third $30,000.

Eagles advanced to the final following their 6-2 victory over Mystix in one semi-final at Bejon's Sports Bar last Sunday, while Mister C clipped Starliner 6-5 in the next.

Twelfth ranking pool tourney

The 12th and final ranking pool tournament for 2009, sponsored jointly by Tads Record Inc and Markham Betting Limited, will take place at Hot Shots Sports Bar, 103 Constant Spring Road, on December 12 and 13.

Dubbed King of the Hill, the eight-ball tournament offers a first prize of $60,000 and trophy, second $20,000 and third $10,000. Entry fee is $1,800, early entry $1,500 and re-entry $1,000. Match time is 3 p.m. on both days.