Clive Ledgister

New Jamaica Under-17 coach Clive Ledgister believes his charges are champions in their own right, despite their third-place finish in the just-concluded West Indies Under-17 Championship.

Jamaica, who had to endure playing five matches in six days, the last three of which were back-to-back as a result of problematic travel and accommodation arrangements, finished behind champions Barbados and the Windward Islands.

Barbados 19.9 points, the Windward Islands on 19.5, and Jamaica 18.6.

"If we had gotten the chance to play on a level playing field, I think we would have walked away champions," said Ledgister, who coaches St Elizabeth Technical at the high school level.

"But having said that, I think they are champions in their own right, as they fought a good fight despite problems we had with travel and accommodation."

Jamaica, who saw Jordane Hill emerging with the most team runs, and captain Michael Frew most team wickets, arrived hours before the start of the tournament.

They were, however, fit enough to record victories in their first two fixtures, which were played on subsequent days, against the host, and the Windward Islands.

Their next three matches were then played on back-to-back days with them losing to Guyana, defeating the Leeward Islands, and losing to Barbados.

A victory for the Jamaicans against Barbados would have seen them lifting the title.

"We knew it would have always been an uphill task to play five games in six days, but we gave it our best shot."