Twenty-eight teams in netball show… Division One numbers down

Twenty- eight teams have been registered in this year’s LIME 4 G National Club Netball Tournament, a drop from last year’s 33, with the numbers in Division One also down.{{more}}

When the participating teams were listed at last Sunday’s opening at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex, five teams were registered in the top flight of the tournament – Division One.

The Division shows perennial participants Vita Malt Maple, Western Union Mitres, French Verandah X-Ceed, along with regulars in the recent past, Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines Valley Netters, and ASCO One.

Notably missing from the 2013 set-up is RSVG Police.

Reports are that efforts were being made to have the female members of the local constabulary as part of the competition.

Apart from the five teams in Division One, 10 are in Division Two, seven are in Division Three and six in Division Four.

But while the numbers have dropped, the spectacle was maintained at Sunday’s opening, amidst cloudy skies and intermittent rainfall.

Following the march to the complex from the AVESCO Club House at the entrance of the venue, there were the usual remarks from netball, government and sponsors’ officials.

Leslie Jack, general manager of LIME, echoed his company’s commitment to assist with the development of netball in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Jack stated that with the introduction of 4G, the company would be able to provide additional services that would be beneficial to netballers and the SVG Netball Association.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil McKie, in his address, challenged the association to work towards the development of its netballers and the association on a whole to ensure that netball receives more nominees at the next National Sports Awards.

In the adjudication process which assessed the colour and décor of the 27 teams which were on parade, New Era Pepper Stars copped the Best Dressed Team award and Everready Future Stars – the team which displayed the Best Banner.

The afternoon was not without some competitive on–court action.

When the final whistles were sounded, Green Hill Sports and Cultural Club Inc had edged out Hillview 30-29, to get Division Two going and Third Eye Security X- Ceed outclassed Bequia Ballers, 25-18.

And, in the exhibition match, Western Union Mitres defeated the national Under-23 training squad, 47-25.

This year’s edition of the tournament would see matches also played at the Keartons hard court and the Clive Tannis hard court in Bequia, along with the regular venues – the Arnos Vale Netball Complex and the Kingstown Netball Centre. (RT)