DEFENDING champions Scotiabank ‘A’ defeated arch-rivals General Accident 21-14 to retain their hold on the Wisynco-sponsored 2010 Business House Netball Association (BHNA) Open League title at the Leila Robinson Courts last Saturday.

The victory gave the bankers their third hold on the Open League title, having first won it in 2007, before losing it to General Accident in 2008. They regained it last year and repeated this year. However, General Accident have won it more than any other team.

According to winning coach Winston Nevers “it was a very exciting encounter, but it was also a team effort. The bankers are much fitter than my insurance rivals and we used fitness to beat them as they were a little bit sluggish and we exploited it”.

Losing player/coach Oberon Pitterson said: “I am very disappointed as we did not fight hard enough to the finish. We also did not stick to our game plan and not try to play as fast as our opponents.”

“The team came through with a few spurts and in the process we also did not capitalise on turnovers, mistakes produced by Scotiabank. The players also looked a bit sluggish in their play, but we will rebound to the larger version of the game in the one-hour Super League encounter,” Pitterson added.

The winners led 11-6 at the break, and though General Accident pulled to within 9-12, Scotiabank ‘A’ proved too strong in the end, pulling away for the comfortable victory.

Meanwhile, Jamaica Broilers defeated Scotiabank ‘B’ 35-15 to take third place with Taneisha Bloomfield scoring 23 goals from 24 attempts. Broilers led 19-9 at the interval.

Sagicor captured the Consolation Knockout final with a 27-17 win over National Housing Trust. The winners led 15-6 at half time. Lorraine Lewis scored 25 goals from 28 attempts for the winners.

Jamaica Public Service defeated J Wray and Nephew 23-12 in the play-off for third place in the Consolation Knockout. The winners led 12-4 at half-time.