Sunshine windball finals this weekend

Defending Sunshine National Sports League (NSL) Premier Division champions San Juan Sports will seek to wrap up a successful season, in which they were beaten only once, with a win in the finals at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua.

Standing in their way are King’s XI who have been runners-up in the division for the last three years. The best of three series to determine the 2003 NSL Premier Division champions will begin at 7 pm on Saturday with second and third matches carded for Sunday and next Saturday, November 22. Details were given yesterday when the NSL hosted a media briefing at the Kapok Hotel, Port-of-Spain. Both finalists have a point to prove this time around with King’s XI hoping to throw out the runners-up label and San Juan keen to complete the three-peat. Also at stake are the Men’s Division One honours, which will be contested by Audio Xpertz of Warrenville and St James based Paradigm.

The Women Division crown will be defended by Desert United and challenged by Queen’s XI. Desert United are attempting to repeat their success of last year losing only one match in a season which saw numbers in the Women’s Division improve to 30 teams. They will meet Queen’s XI, sister team to King’s XI, who boast a unique combination of youth, experience and a drive to raise the winners’ trophy. There is a $80,000 cash package up for grabs when the finals begin on Saturday at noon. First up will be the Women’s Division match, followed by the first encounters in the Division One and Premier Division best of three series.

The Premier Division winners will receive $30,000, Challenge trophy and replica, 15 gold medals and sponsors’ products; the first placed Division One team will take home $10,000, Challenge Trophy and replica, 15 gold medals and sponsors’ products; and the winning Women’s team receives $5,000, Challenge Trophy and replica and 15 gold medals. At a media reception yesterday ahead of this weekend’s finals, Chairman of the National Windball Cricket League, Terry Apping revealed that with the growing interest in the league next season will see further development. Among the changes will be the improvement of the zonal competition’s prize structures.