FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Jamaica Pubic Service Company Limited (JPSCo) tipped off its 2010 Western Region Netball season with a rally at the Elliston Wakeland Community Centre in Falmouth on Saturday.

Thirty-three teams from Westmoreland (eight), Hanover (10), St James (seven), and Trelawny (eight) contested 66 matches played over 10 minutes each on two courts. Over 400 spectators watched in brilliant sunshine as the teams scored more than 500 goals, with all four champions being newly-crowned and undefeated on the day.

“The Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) great emphasis on what is happening in western Jamaica, and we see this as an important part of our netball development,” said JNA vice-president Dorothy Hobson at the ceremony opening the event.

The JPS started sponsoring western netball in 2005 with the St James Intermediate League and over the years have added the Westmoreland Super League (2006), the Hanover Open League (2008) and for the first time this year, the Trelawny Open League.

Since the start of the tournement, over $10 million have been spent. This year’s budget was put at $3 million and covered uniforms, umpires’ fees, cash and trophy prizes (for both sections) as well as transportation and lunch for the teams at the rally.

Manager of external affairs at JPS Western Region, Kathleen Cooke, reminded participants and spectators of “JPSCo’s commitment to discipline and excellence”. “It has been a wonderful day of netball, the teams played well, and this is the signal of an excellent start of the 2010 Leagues,” she said.

Starlight B took the St James crown winning their three Zone encounters then stopping Aces 9-0 and Angelletts 3-1, respectively, in the semi-final and final.

Westlanders Sports Club earned the Westmoreland title following victories in their three Zone matches, including a 13-3 semi-final win over defending champions Bluebirds and a 5- 2 final result over newcomers ViQueens. Bluebirds, who are also the defending League champions, went down 4-8 to Unlimited in the third place play-off.

Hanover’s 2009 League champions Russia prevailed with a 5-4 win over Green Island who beat defending champions Logwood 3-2 in the semi-final.

The first Trelawny JPSCo rally title went to Starlight who scored a 4-3 win over Falmouth Police Youth Club following on an 8-0 thrashing of Stewart Town in semi-finalists .

The respective parish Leagues are set to begin later this month.