Maple, two wins away from Division 1 netball title

Maple Netball Club, the oldest netball organization in the OECS, is just two wins away from winning the Division One league title of the FLOW National Club tournament, staged by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association.

The Metrocint General Insurance Company Limited-sponsored Maple have won all five matches played thus far.

Maple made it win No. 5 last Thursday, whipping Dr Jules ASCO 64-39, at the tournament’s venue – Kingstown Netball Centre.

Other wins for Maple have been their 77-27 downing of Star Girls, Hill View 83-31 and an 81-24 thumping of Sea Operations Nar Fren Dem.

Standing in Maple’s path are arch-rivals Western Union Mitres and Twilight Trading X-Ceed.

Maple’s bigger threat, though, should be X-Ceed, who registered a 74-72 triumph over Mitres, the defending champions.

It was Mitres’ first defeat in four years, having played unbeaten in 2014, 2015 and 2016, lifting both the league and knockout titles.

X-Ceed, like Maple, have won all their matches for 2017, albeit only contesting three. Other than their win over Mitres, X-Ceed has also bettered ASCO 64-43 and won by default from Star Girls.

Persons close to the sport here are waiting with bated breath to witness the remaining fixtures in Division One, namely, Maple versus Mitres and Maple against X-Ceed.

Maple are seeking their first piece of national netball silverware since 2013, when the 66-year-old club won both the Division One league and knockout titles.