ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

CHAMPIONS JAMAICA will begin the defence of the Jean Pierre Caribbean Under-16 netball title with a relatively easy match against unfancied Dominica at the YMCA Complex here tonight.

The Jamaicans, the winners of the tournament when it was last played in 2006, are the favourites to win their seventh title.

The inexperienced Dominicans have only two surviving players from the tournament held two years ago in Trinidad and Tobago.

Barbados, winners in 2005 and one of the teams expected to challenge the champions, will begin the quest for their second title against St. Lucia in one of four opening matches.

The chairperson of the organising committee, Yvette Francis, said this year's competition would be an open affair.

Up for grabs

"It is up for grabs," said Francis, a former president of the Caribbean Netball Association and Antigua and Barbuda Netball Association. "All teams have a chance because most of the players will be new as there was no tournament last year."

The other two matches on the opening night will feature hosts Antigua and Barbuda against Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago versus St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in a match of two of the perennial top netball nations.

The eight-team tournament, which ends on April 11, will be played on a round-robin format.