Michael McLean, Freelance Writer

SANTA CRUZ:

TAFARI LIONS proved that they are indeed the number one football team in St. Elizabeth after they came from behind to crown themselves 2005-2006 Wray and Nephew Major League champions after pulling off a stunning 1-1 draw to clinch the title with a 5-4 aggregate win in the final at Appleton, on Sunday.

Merrick Howard confidently stepped up to the penalty spot and took the final spot kick, which went past goalkeeper Tamar Daley to the delight of the loud cheering Lions fan who swarmed the field after referee Courtney Campbell blew the final whistle to give the Linval Wilson-coached team its second hold on the Wray and Nephew trophy and its third title this season.

The successful coach was happy to win his first Major League title in the parish.

"Our team came under a lot of pressure in the first half of the game, but we stuck to the task and we got a goal to level the match and am happy because we won," Wilson said.

The Lions won the knock-out and mid-season finals beating the same opponent.

In the first leg final at Munro over a week ago, the Lions were 4-3 winners.

The diminutive Edroy Barrett opened the scoring for the Colour Reds in the 11th minute after he picked up a ball in the six-yard box and kicked past goalkeeper, Peter Gayle.

Holland, who had not beaten the champions this year, dominated most of the game.

For their efforts, the Lions pocketed $170,000, while the runners-up received $80,000.

Grange Hill will take a 3-1 advantage against Frome into tomorrow's second leg final of the Captain's Bakery-sponsored Westmoreland Major League at Frome Sports Club.

The Division One final, between Three Mills River and Chantilly at 1:00 p.m, will precede the 3:00 p.m. Major League final.

In Wednesday's first leg Major League final, Shawn Cooper, Miguel Munro and Derrick Malcolm were the goalscorers for Grange Hill. Sedane McCreath netted Frome's lone goal.

Cooper, Munro and Malcolm, who scored on Wednesday, along with Dwayne Kinglocke and Andre Ferguson, will lead Grange Hill's charge against Frome, who demonstrated fighting spirit in the semis.

Adrian Robinson, who scored a brace in the semi-final, Damion Green and McCreath are the players to lead Frome's attack.

The teams are playing for the Captain Bakery's trophy and $100,000. The beaten finalists will pocket $50,000.

Two matches will be played in this weekend's round of matches in the JPS-sponsored St. James Netball Association Intermediate League.

Pacers B take on Crystal B at Montego Bay Cricket Club, while Pacers Juveniles face Road Stars at Montego Bay Boys and Girls Club, tomorrow.

Both matches are set to begin at 5:00 p.m.

Blazer B lead Zone A with seven points, one ahead of Road Star. They are followed by Pacers Juveniles (one) and Hopewell (zero), while Tornado (three points) lead Zone B ahead of Barrett Town and Pacers B, who are yet to play, while Crystal lost their only contest.

In action from Tuesday, Blazers B defeated Hopewell 15-0. In last weekend's action, Tornado outscored Crystal 30-16, while Pacers Juveniles and Blazers B ended 33-33.

The St. Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners/INSPORTS netball competition continues tomorrow with four matches.

Giddimani Girls take on St. Dacre Strikers in a Group A feature at St. Dacre Community Centre at 5:00 p.m. while Woods Town face Lakeside at St. Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners Sports Club, formerly Kaiser, at 4:00 p.m.

In matches played, last weekend, St. Dacre Phats crushed John Reid 42-7; defending champions Ocho Rios Magic defeated Discovery Bay All Stars 38-10; Brown's Town All Stars beat Lime Hall Police Youth Club 32-29, in a close and exciting encounter while Higgins Land beat Links 22-21 in a nail-biter.

Twelve teams, divided into two groups are taking part in the competition, which served off on May 14: St. Dacre Phats, St. Dacre Strikers, Giddimani Girls, Ocho Rios Magic, Discovery Bay and John Reid (Group A); Woods Town, Higgins Land, Links United, Lime Hall Police Youth Club, Lakeside All Stars and Brown's Town All Stars (Group B).

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals after which the winners will play for $70,000 and the championship trophy.

Keiron Brown scored a century to lead defending champions Hoolebury to their second straight win in the Square One Supermarket Liquor and Wholesale-sponsored Northwest St. Ann Primary/All-Age School League.

Brown scored 103, and along with Jeviour Dixon - 63 not out, shared in a second-wicket partnership of 216 runs, which helped their team to 223-2 against Bamboo.

Brown hit 16 fours and four sixes off 91 balls, while Dixon struck 10 fours and one six.

In reply, Bamboo were blown away for 78. John Williams top scored with 18 while Anthony Darlington made 4 against Davion Heslop (3-20) and Peter Clarke (2-14).

In the day's other match, Runaway Bay defeated Combined School (Chester and Mount Zion) by three wickets.

Replying to Combined School's 114, Runaway Bay reached 115-7 with Ricardo Wellington getting 35 (3x6, 2x4). Sandre Wilson (2-15) and Oral Henry (2-26) took the most wickets for Combined.

Raghni Francis, 20, top scored with 20 for Combined School against Dain Higgins (3-21) and Alex Walters (2-17).

Lititz/South Ridge and Ballards Valley will face off tomorrow in the second semi-final of the Intown Super Save/Uprising Youth Club cricket competition at Lititz/South Ridge.

Both teams are gunning for a place in the final alongside Cheapside who defeated Dalton last weekend.

In the 35-overs-a-side encounter, Lititz/South Ridge will bank on experienced players in former Jamaica batsman, Orville Pennant, Donovan Sinclair, Andre Dwyer, Troy Powell, Jason Walters and Algrove Johnson.

On the other hand, Shane Powell, Bruce Blackwood and Mark Gordon, along with the Bryce brothers, Damion and Andrew, should provide the firepower for Ballards.

In last week's first semi-final, Cheapside defeated Dalton by eight wickets.

Batting first, Dalton were blown away for 154. Ian Roach, 44, and Standly Brady, 28, made the most runs against Claude Johnson (3-12), Howard Fairman (3-20) and Stezon Patterson (2-24).

In reply, Cheapside raced 156-2. Former St. Elizabeth parish batsman, Lincoln Brown, 66 not out, Kemar Brooks, 36, and Ishnel Parchment, 28, saw their team home.

Jermaine Lynch, 2-18, took the most wickets.

Rizing Stars and Runaway Bay can book their semi-final spots in the LCWL-sponsored St. Ann Football Association Division One League today.

Rizing Stars travel to Drax Hall to play Higher Level at 4:00 p.m. while Runaway Bay host Rio Hoe at the same time in Runaway Bay.

Pioneer, with 16 points, have already booked their semi-final spot. Rizing Stars and Runaway Bay are joint second on 14 points while Parry Town have 12, and Falklands are on 11.

Falklands will face Steer Town, tomorrow at Drax Hall, while Parry Town will tackle Runaway Bay, on Wednesday, also at Drax Hall.

Two matches will also be played on Tuesday; Rio Hoe take on Pioneer in Moneague, while Content Gardens take on Higher Level at Drax Hall.

In the latest round of matches, Pioneer beat Higher Level 2-0, Rizing Stars edged Steer Town 1-0, while Falklands and Parry Town ended 1-1.

Action in the 2006 Libresse women's cricket league continues this weekend with four matches in St. Mary.

Jacks River take on Piggy All Stars at Eden Park Sports Club, today at 11:00 p.m.

In tomorrow's matches, Albion Mountain face Jacks River at Albion Mountain, Starlight tackle Fellow Blazers at Fontabel and Hamilton Mountain take on Sunshine Girls at Hamilton Mountain.

A new competition to bolster development at the primary school level in Manchester was launched at the Comfort Sports Club recently. Primary sponsors are Wheels and Wheels, an auto dealer based in Kingston, in partnership with the local INSPORT programme.

Twenty-two primary schools drawn from all the regions of the parish are taking part and as a measure of its perceived importance 15 schools braved pouring early morning rain to be present at the launch, at which competition details were provided.

A presentation of two bats, special competition balls and T-shirts inscribed with the sponsors logo were made to each participating school by Bentley Hibbert, managing director of Wheels and Wheels. He said the sponsorship was valued at $450,000, and in addition to the prize money at the end of the competition, his company would provide lunch for all the teams on match days.

In the Island Sport Trust primary school girls' football and boys' basketball leagues, Albion Mountain and Free Hill secured victories.

On the football pitch, Albion Mountain Primary beat Newstead Primary 2-1. In the second game, Oracabessa Primary got by Free Hill Primary 3-1 thanks to a double strike from Natalie Wilson.