JOBS Lane “A” inflicted a major upset win when they defeated defending champions JAMALCO 27-24 in the 2013/2014 Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS)/Netball Jamaica Open League competition at the Leila Robinson Courts on Saturday last.

It was the first defeat for the Winston Nevers-coached Clarendon-based JAMALCO, while the Spanish Town-based aggregation maintained their unbeaten run to put themselves at the top of the point standings in Group 2 ahead of the defending champions. Both teams had won their earlier matches before their exciting rivalry. JAMALCO beat arch-rival Waulgrovians “A” 38-32, while Jobs Lane “A” outscored Hampshire “A” 20-13.

Herman Thorpe, coach of Jobs Lane “A” said he was very pleased with his team’s win. “Our team is a very fit and young combination and the players stood up to the task nicely in what was a very exciting encounter right to the final whistle,” Thorpe opined. He said the players were confident that they could have beaten JAMALCO based on the fact that the top teams are weakened as a result of the soon-to-start semi-professional league.

“It was a wonderful game and also the best performance this season by the players who were confident they could have beaten JAMALCO. The players felt very good and we are looking for another tough encounter when we face former many-time champions Waulgrovians “A”,” Thorpe indicated.

Losing coach Winston Nevers said despite the defeat the team played very well. “We are currently in a rebuilding phase with several young schoolgirl players whom we think will blossom quickly, say, within another three years. It is hard to start from scratch and but they will get theirs,” Nevers, the JAMALCO coach, said Jobs Lane “A” played well and are playing some very good netball. “I have been watching them over the years, and their win over us was not a surprise especially after losing so many players to the semi-pro.”

Results of matches played on Sunday were:

Maxfield Park “A” beat Drewsland “B” 24-013; Friendship outscored De La Vega 21-8; Blades United “A” and UTECH Knights played to a 19-19 draw; Maverley defeated Alexander Strikers “B” 21-15.

Pembroke Hall got the better of Rivoli United “B” 21-15; Molynes United “C” noosed out Maxfield Park “B” 19-18; Jetsetters “A” beat Alpha “A” 24-12; Rivoli United “A” defeated Upper Camp 24-11; Waulgrovians “B” rushed past Braeton United 33-10.

Mico “A” hammered Jetsetters “B: 39-5; Fresh Approach for the better of Hampshire “B” 15-9; Blades United “A” outscored Maverley 27-9; Maxfield Park beat Liguanea “B” 21-14; De La Vega beat Alexander Strikers “B” 21-11; UTECH Knights outscored Drewsland “B: 32-5; Mico “B” got past Jetsetters “A” 16-12; Alpha “B” got by Pembroke Hall 16-13; SPEG defeated Molynes United “C” 24-13; GC Foster Strikers “B” outscored Maxfield Park “B” 28-14.