DEFENDING champions Jamalco face Hagley Park as the 2015 Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS)/Netball Jamaica Sunshine Open League competition gets under way today at the Leila Robinson Courts.

The Jamalco and Hagley Park encounter is scheduled to start at 6:30 pm, as 32 matches will be played today starting at 2:30 pm following the opening ceremony and parade of the 72 participating teams at 1:00 pm.

Jamalco, coached by Winston Nevers, should have little difficulty in overwhelming their lesser fancied opponents as they are one of the most experienced teams parading a number of former national representatives in their line-up.

Hagley Park, on the other hand, will have a tough task in trying to contain the shooting duo of former national captain Elaine Davis and Naudia Brown.

Tivoli, coached by Sylvester Campbell, should also start on a winning note in their encounter with Raven, which begins at 5:10 pm, as they are one of the top teams in the competition.

Other top teams expected to come out winners in their opening matches are Waulgrovians ‘A’ coached by Marvette Anderson over Police ‘B’ at 3:50 pm; University of the West Indies (UWI) Pelicans should beat Jobs Lane ‘B’ at 7:10 pm; Police ‘A’ should beat Sports and Games ‘B’ easily; Molynes ‘A’ over Sports and Games ‘A’.

The other matches scheduled today are as follows:

At 2:30 pm , Liguanea ‘A’ vs De La Vega; Red Challenge vs Police ‘C’; Cablepro vs Global United ‘B’. Pembroke Hall vs Duhaney Park ‘B’; Genesis vs Boulevard Baptist ‘A’; Tantrum vs Wolmer’s ‘B’; Blades United ‘B’ vs Waterhouse Eagles at 3:10 pm.

Boulevard Baptist ‘B’ vs Top Mountain; Friendship vs Hannah Town; Jetsetters ‘B’ vs Up Park Camp at 3:50 pm; Hampshire vs Blades United ‘B’; Maverley ‘B’ vs Waulgrovians ‘B’; Tryall Heights vs Jobs Lane ‘A’; Rollington Town ‘B’ vs Greenwich Town at 4:30 pm.

At 5:10 pm, Alexander Strikers ‘A’ vs Queen’s Park; Alpha ‘B’ vs Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); Maverley ‘A’ vs Department of Correctional Services. Drewsland vs New Kingston Raiders; Alpha ‘A’ vs Maxfield Park ‘A’; Westchester vs Ocho Rios Magics at 5:50 pm.

Spanish Town vs Rollington ‘A’; SKIBO vs Alexander Strikers ‘B’; Harbour View vs Molynes United ‘B’ at 6:30 pm; Global United ‘A’ vs Duhaney Park ‘A’; Jetsetters ‘A’ vs Maxfield Park ‘B’; Liguanea ‘B’ vs Arnett Gardens at 7:10 pm.

The Open League has been divided into eight groups with the teams topping their respective groups advancing to the quarter-finals knockout.

Four new teams will be playing for the first time — Wolmer’s, who have ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, Harbour View, Waterhouse Eagles and Tryall Heights.

Group One – Police ‘A’; Maxfield Park ‘A’, Ocho Rios Magics; Alpha ‘A’; New Kingston Raiders, Westchester, Drewsland, Sports and Games ‘B’ and Wolmer’s ‘A’. Group Two – Waulgrovians ‘A’, GC Foster ‘B’, Friendship, Jetsetters ‘B’, Police ‘B’, Boulevard Baptist ‘B’, Upper Camp, Top Mountain Flames and Hannah Town.

Group Three – defending champions Jamalco, SKIBO, Molynes United ‘B’, Spanish Town, Alexander Strikers ‘B’, Hagley Park, Harbour View and EXED Saints. Group Four – GC Foster Strikers ‘A’, Blades United ‘A’, Boulevard Baptist ‘A’, Pembroke Hall, Duhaney Park ‘B’, Tantrum, Genesis, Waterhouse Eagles and Wolmer’s ‘B’.

Group Five – Tivoli Gardens, Mico ‘B’, Alexander Strikers ‘A’, Raven, Maverley ‘A’, Alpha ‘B’, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Department of Correctional Services and Queen’s Park.

Group Six – Mico ‘A’, Waulgrovians ‘B’, Jobs Lane ‘A’, Blades United ‘B’, Hampshire, Rollington Town, Maverly ‘B’ and Tryall Heights.

Group Seven – Molynes United ‘A’, Cablepro, Police ‘C’, Liguanea United ‘A’, Red Challenge, Global United ‘B’, Ken’s Wildflower, De La Vega and Sports and Games ‘A’.

Group Eight – UWI Pelicans ‘A’, Jetsetters ‘A’, Jobs Lane ‘B’, Global United ‘A’, Duhaney Park ‘A’, Molynes United ‘C’, Maxfield Park ‘B’, Arnett Gardens and Liguanea United ‘B’.