Mon | Dec 29, 2025

Mixed Strikers cop Roger Clarke Trophy

Published:Saturday | October 13, 2012 | 12:00 AM
The members of the Mixed Strikers Netball team from Savanna-la-Mar share the spotlight before the WBA Roger Clarke competition in Westmoreland recently. - Contributed

Western Bureau:

Mixed Strikers captured the first title of the 2012 Westmoreland Netball Association (WNA) season recently when they won the one-day Central Westmoreland/Roger Clarke Netball League's rally at Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar.

The 25-match rally, which featured more than 160 players, was contested by 15 teams divided into four groups in the preliminary phase. The zone winners advanced to a four-team semi-final round, where the two winners advanced to the final.

"I didn't know there would be this many teams," said Clarke, who is the member of parliament for Central Westmoreland and minister of agriculture and fisheries. "I will up the ante by contributing from my own funds another $100,000."

Initially, Clarke had pledged $200,000 from his Constituency Development Fund to stage the rally and league, which is set to follow, but with his new announcement, the new sponsorship tag is now $300,000.

"Sports is the avenue through which our young people can advance themselves for the total development of the human being," said Clarke. "I will be calling on all the business people to support the relaunch of the WNA. I want to see Westmoreland become a force to be reckoned with in netball nationally."

The WNA is planning a function on Saturday, October 27, for its relaunch. At that time, it is expected that a complete executive will be named. Jamaica Netball Association president, Marva Bernard, is expected to be in attendance.

Victory march

In marching to victory in the recent rally, Mixed Strikers had 8-3, 10-1, and 9-2 wins over BCLS, Bluefield's Villas, and Manning's School to top Group Two. In the semi-finals, they blunted the challenge of Savannah 12-3 before clipping Gold Star 6-5 in the final.

"We are grateful for the victory but need to get back to intense training to work on improving strategies and fitness," said Marsha Haye, captain of the winning Mixed Strikers aggregation.

Interestingly, it should be noted that defending Rally Champions, ViQueens, who are considered as arguably the most potent force in Westmoreland's netball, did not participate in this year's rally.