There will be a new Division One champion of the Cable and Wireless National Netball Tournament this year.
Last year’s winner, C & R Enterprises Sion Hill, meekly gave up their lien on the title last Monday evening when they went under to Vita Malt Maples 50 – 57.{{more}}
This loss set up a meeting between Maples and Buddy Pack Mitres in a virtual final, which was set to come off last evening at the Kingstown Netball Centre.
Both Maples and Mitres were unbeaten until then, and that result will also determine who will represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines at next year’s OECS Champion of Champions Club Tournament. Maples this year has returned with a vengeance, blasting everyone who came its way.
They registered a 59 – 23 thrashing of TRAC, sliced Police 67 – 36 and recorded a comfortable 68 – 49 win over Inter-Secondary School. They also blew away Layou Nature Care Stars 86 – 29, and crushed Gatorade Strikers 62 – 46.
Mitres, on the other hand, was not as domineering. Its records show a 50 – 29 win against Marriaqua Sports Association, a 46 – 41 beating of Inter-Secondary School and a 53 – 33 win versus TRAC. Mitres also beat Police 47 – 39 and won by default over Layou Nature Care Stars.
Mitres, though, still has Sion Hill to play in its last match set for Sunday, May 2.
Whoever wins this year’s title will bring about a change of hands of the title over the past four years.
Maples was the 2001 champion, but was dethroned by Mitres in 2002.
But for dethroned champion Sion Hill, it is not all lost. The team will carry the torch for St. Vincent and the Grenadines at this year’s ECGC OECS Club Championship slated for May 28 to June 1 here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.