The Vincentian for 20-04-12

Page 30

V

32. FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012. THE VINCENTIAN

Sports

Regional Cricket Final – 2012 Jamaica makes it five in a row

Girls’ power ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES have failed to claim the title of Queens on the Regional Under-16 netball circuit. That is not a new situation, for other countries have eclipsed our period of dominance at that level. The foundation established by our Under-16 squads has long disappeared. So much so that persons might have forgotten that Sancho Lyttle and Sophie Young had their exposure to basketball through the Netball front door. There is the fairy tale story of Sophia Young going straight on from an Under-16 tournament to the USA, to begin a basketball training. Sancho Lyttle also had a late introduction to basketball. But by the time they had diverted to the basketball arena, they were already adept at ball handling. The intricacies and delicacies of basketball they had to adjust to, and are perhaps still going through those processes. For one never ceases to learn in life. We have witnessed a shift in fortunes on the Netball landscape, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines no longer occupies pride of place in the top tier. But that aura of invincibility has been replaced by a sense of regionalism. Netball officials are trying to ensure that the sport is used as a platform of social interaction. And whereas SVG may have lost its sheen as far as being netball queens is concerned, the girls are better off for their part in entrenching the Caribbean citizenry. The staging of a breakfast event at the Arnos Vale Playing Field last Wednesday morning drove home the depth of regionalism. Organizers ensured that it was something of a genuine Caribbean affair, for teams were not placed in territorial order. Each table comprised the total Caribbean mix. The youngsters also engaged in dramatization and other forms of cultural interaction. And it was only when the accents echoed that one grasped the distinct island flair of a particular territory. On casual appearance, it would have been hard to distinguish a player from a country except they displayed some form of identification or they had been known to you previously. The Netball community must be commended for their insistence of trying to broaden the sisterly love among the players. The interaction among the competitors would have helped to iron out some of the tendency of bitterness that tended to accompany netball clashes of yesteryear. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is adjusting to the demands of the modern sporting arena. There may be a shortage of certain amenities which may have contributed to the decline of fortunes locally. A more scientific and systematic approach to the preparation of the game and application of more dynamic regime play their part in the progress of the sport. It is more than throwing a ball around the court when it comes to netball. The intensity has to be stepped up another level. It is not netball as usual and players, coaches and administrators have to appreciate the changing of the guard. The new generation of netball leaders will have to come to the reality of the new situation. Traditions and heritage must be respected and allowed to develop. There must be no attempts to dilute the product and in fact the emphasis ought to be on trying to improve the crop. On the wider front, things augur well for the emerging Caribbean woman. Those from St. Vincent and the Grenadines must endeavour to keep up with the trends and preserve that unique Vincentian flair.

JAMAICA MADE IT FIVE STRAIGHT TITLES in the West Indies Cricket Board four day Cricket Competition, with a come from behind win over Barbados in the final at the Sabina Park in Jamaica. After conceding an 18-run first innings lead, the home team batted with a sense of purpose in their second innings to post 247 for 5 declared, setting Barbados 230 to win. Donovan Pagon, the 2012 leading batsman, hit 45. Brenton Parchment scored 42, Suliemann Tamar Benn bowled Lambert 42 well again, but not out and this time in a Danza losing effort. Hyatt 33. Suliemann Benn was the main wicket taker for Barbados with 4 for 67, as he ended with match figures of 9 for 157. But incisive bowling by David Bernard Jr. who snared 4 for 34, Odean Brown 3 for Right: Nikita 9 and Miller was Nikita again among Miler 2 for the wickets 12, brought for the Barbados Jamaicans.

Left: Donovan Pagon, was the competition’s top batsman. crashing to 90 all out, as Jamaica celebrated its eighth straight outright win in the 2012 season. Only Shane Dorwich with 32 made any score of note for the Barbadians. The Jamaicans had batted first and made 273, with Donavon Pagon making 71, Brenton Parchment 58 and Nikita Miller 34 not out. Benn was the pick of the Barbados bowling Jonathan Carter must be wondering what he did the as he grabbed 5 for 90, and Carlos gods as another century eluded him. Braithwaite picked up 3 for 38. When Barbados responded, they lumbered past their first target of 273, to reach 291 all out. Jonathan Carter for the second successive season failed to make his maiden first class century, as he fell agonizingly for 99. Rashidi Boucher Andrew Richardson contributed 52 and managed a five-wicket Dwayne Smith haul in a spirited first struck 29. innings by the Bowling for Barbadians. Jamaica, Andrew Richardson bagged 5 Jamaica’s eleventh, for 71 and Nikita second only to Barbados, Miller had 4 for 63. who possess 20 regional The 2012 title was titles.

Guiness Street Football returns THE POPULAR GUINNESS Street Football Challenge is back. St. Vincent Brewery Ltd., local brewers of the world famous stout, announced this week that the Challenge will be launched on Friday 27th April, 2012. The Guinness Street Football Challenge accommodates teams of five persons each, and is a variation of the ‘small goal football’ that is not only a form of recreational football, but a training method employed by coaches around the world. The St. Vincent Brewery announced that prize monies will include $500 for zonal winners, with a grand prize of $2,000 for the overall winning team. Of course, winners will also receive cases of Guinness stout. In addition, and expected to be a major incentive, is the

opportunity for the winning team to participate in the Caribbeanwide finals, scheduled for Guyana, June 23, 2012. Kenwyne Jones, striker with English Premier League Club, Stoke City F.C. and captain of the Trinidad and Tobago football team, is to continue his role as Guinness Street Football Challenge Ambassador. He is expected to appear at the Caribbean finals in Guyana. Registration for the local Challenge begins today at the St. Vincent Brewery’s headquarters in Campden Park. Locations for the preliminary round of matches will be made known following the closure of registrations. Kenwyne Jones, Trinidadian The Guinness Street Football Challenge is endorsed by the SVG professional footballer, will continue as the Guinness Street Football Federation. Football Challenge Ambassador.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Vincentian for 20-04-12 by TheVincentian Publishing - Issuu