DEFENDING champions JAMALCO turned back a spirited challenge from arch-rivals Tivoli “A” to emerge 34-29 winners to top the “Elite” Group of the JNBS/JNA Open Netball League at the Leila Robinson Courts last Saturday.

The win was JAMALCO’s seventh from as many starts. Tivoli “A” finished second with 15 points, inclusive of two defeats, while many-time champions Waulgrovians “A” also ended with 15 and two losses, but lost on goal difference. UWI Pelicans “A” ended with 12 points.

Meanwhile, the last four places in the “Elite” Group will face the winners of the Open League Group “B” in a play-off to participate in the FASTNET competition to be played this weekend at the same venue.

The last four in the “Elite” Group are Mico “A” who finished with nine points, GC Fosters “A”, WINDALCO (six points each), and Tivoli “B” who ended the preliminary phase without a point after sinking to seven straight defeats.

Matches scheduled for this evening in the quarter-finals of Open League Group “B” are Arnett Gardens “A’ vs Molynes United “A”; Raven “A” vs Blades United “A” at 6:00 p.m.; Alpha “A” vs UWI Pelicans “B”, and newcomers Global United vs Jetsetters “A” at 7:00 pm.

Alpha topped Group 1 by beating Waulgrovians “B” in a play-off for the top place after both ended with 19 points. UWI Pelicans “B” won Group 1 with maximum 24 points from eight wins, while Global United won Group 3, also with maximum 24 points.

Meanwhile, Jetsetters “A” took Group 4 with maximum 21 points from seven wins; Arnett Gardens “A” won Group 5 with 24 from eight straight; Molynes United “A” topped Group 6 with 21 from seven; Raven “A” won Group 7 with 24 from eight, while Blades United “A” claimed Group 8 with 24 from eight wins.

Results of “Elite” Group matches played last Saturday: Waulgrovians “A” defeated UWI Pelicans “A”, 43-26; Mico “A” turned back GC Foster “A”, 29-20, and WINDALCO got past Tivoli “B”, 23-21.