Valley Renaissance takes the lead in Super League
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The defending Belize Bank Super League champion Texmar Boys rolled into Dangriga yesterday to face the red hot Valley Renaissance who has stormed to the top of the playoff standings forcing Texmar Boys into second place with one week to go in this round of play. Of course, folks this match could well be a preview of the three game championship series so the Valley moves to take the upper hand early when Kenroy Arthurs dances past his man to let loose this dangerous left foot shot that bounces off the near upright. In reply Robert Muschamp fires off this bomb just outside the eighteen that is only thwarted by the outstretched fingers of the one called Woodrow West in goal for Dangriga. People we’re twenty-six minutes in when Harrison Tasher drops this ball perfectly for Alexander Peters whose first touch beats the keeper and then has the presence of mind to head it into the net under pressure and the home team takes a 1-zip lead. Four minutes later Texmar’s Wilmer Garcia gets this unconstrained look at goal for the equalizer only to be let down by this left foot launch that is thoroughly disappointing. Nevertheless, the visitors continue to press when Wilmer Garcia tries to make amends with this offering that forces a diving save from Woodrow West. It’s more pressure from Texmar Boys when Robert Muschamp fires from long range but its right at the goalkeeper. Folks we’re some fifteen minutes into second half when Authors centers perfectly for Dwayne Sampson who squanders a golden opportunity for the Valley to double the lead. At the other end Woodrow West is asked to come out of his goal to make a crucial stop and he answers the call successfully. Texmar Boys now recognize it’s getting late so they try to strike off this spot kick from the left from the left side only to see the header from Gilmore Palacio not find the target. When the long whistle blows Valley Renaissance has the 1-zip big W over Texmar Boys in a highly competitive ballgame.
In the other playoff match-up over the weekend Kraal Road came out strong to edge San Felipe Barcelona 3-2 at the M.C.C. Grounds. Thus with one outing each remaining for the four teams in this semi-final round Valley Renaissance now shows thirteen points and are now the de-facto number one seed going into the championship round. Texmar Boys show eight points and should move on. However, Kraal Road now has five points and could also total eight with a win this Sunday while San Felipe Barcelona has one point to show. In the meantime, Texmar Boys has a goal differential of plus six while Kraal Road shows a minus four which means Kraal Road would have to win by an eleven point margin to move past Texmar to the finals.
This weekend’s schedule finds San Felipe Barcelona at Texmar Saturday night while Kraal Road will travel to Valley Renaissance at Dangriga for a Sunday match-up. However, the league is contemplating playing both matches at the same time Saturday so as not to compromise the integrity of this competition. After all Valley Renaissance could allow Kraal Road to beat them eleven nil on Sunday if Texmar Boys should lose to San Felipe Saturday night.
In other football news, Yabra took yesterday’s under fifteen football marathon at the St. Martin’s field yesterday with Third World as Jason Gabb emerged with MVP honours while Pickstock/Lake took the under twelve title with Third World taking second. Sidney Bradley walked off with the MVP award.
In the basketball tournament also presented on this ticket, PIV took the under fifteen competition with Bulldogs second as Ryan Mitchell grabbed the MVP trophy. And at the under twelve level it was PIV again with the title forcing Bulldogs into second. Tamil Miller was voted MVP.
Turning to the cycling scene, Gregory Lovell of Santino’s won Saturday’s forty-two mile race presented by the Belize Cycling Association in one hour, thirty-five minutes, ten seconds in a sprint that saw Mateo Cruz roll in second and Edgar Arana third.
Looking ahead folks, the twenty-eighth annual Belmopan Cycling Classic is set for this Sunday eighth March and will leave the constitution Park, head for Belmopan and swing back to finish one hundred miles later at Leslie’s Imports. Unfortunately, the defending champion Marlon Castillo of Santino’s will not be able to defend his title because of a collar bone injury which occurred during a training session. The junior class and female riders will ride seventy miles this Sunday beginning at the Democracia and will swing back at Belmopan for the Leslie’s Imports finish.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
