Lions, Kangaroos, Saints seek two-day Super League crown

Jermaine Lannaman, Star Writer

Three teams, former champions Manchester Lions, perennial title-contenders Melbourne Kangaroos, and reigning champions St Catherine Saints, are all in with a chance of lifting the Jamaica Cricket Association Super League when the competition draws to a close this weekend.

While the three top contenders will battle for the title and main prize of $1 million, first-timers Hanover Dolphins, Westmoreland Wizards and St Elizabeth Warriors are all battling to to avoid relegation to next year's second division Senior Cup.

Favourites Manchester, who lead the standings with 23 points, will travel to Jarett Park to face Hanover (4), while second-place Melbourne (21) and St Catherine (18) face off at Chedwin Park in the round's two top matches.

Out-of-contention Kingston Tigers (15) will entertain St Elizabeth (8) at Sabina Park, and Trelawny Buccaneers (10) will play away to Westmoreland (7) at St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) in the day's other game.

"We are very optimistic of beating Hanover and lifting the title despite the latest ban against Maurice Kepple by the JCA (Jamaica Cricket Association)," said Manchester's coach, Barry Barnes.

banned

Kepple was banned from this weekend's round of matches after the JCA Competitions and Complaints Committee ruled that his pre-season loan transfer request from second-tier Senior Cup side Kensington CC to Manchester failed to follow proper procedures.

unaccepted

Manchester, were fined a record $300,000. The decision did not go down well with some teams in the league, including title challengers Manchester and St Catherine, who feel more should have been done.

Both teams, after reviewing the JCA decision, issued a joint statement on Thursday saying that they were not in agreement and requested an appeal pursuant to Rule 23 of the competition.

The rule regarding loan transfer states: "Should any club/parish be found guilty of a breach of this rule, then such a club/parish shall suffer a loss of any points gained in the match in which the breach was committed and/or may be fined."

The JCA, which originally ruled that no appeal would be allowed, had not responded to the teams' request up to late yesterday.