James Adderley has weekend rundown in sports
The Belize Bank Super League kicked off its four team double elimination playoffs over the weekend and up north at the San Felipe Football Field, San Felipe Barcelona opened with a home against the number three seed Kraal Road of Belize City. Nevertheless, it’s the visitors who get off to the dream start when goalkeeper Bryan Hernandez gets for cute in this collision with Raymond Gentle. He coughs up the pill. Gentle scores into an empty net to give Kraal Road a 1-zip lead nine minutes in. the home team responds with this half volley from Saul Morales but Anthony Bernard in goal today for Kraal Road shows off his experience. At the other end Kraal Road looks for more on this nice left foot swing from Delroy Andrew’s whose launch inches over the crossbar. In the meantime, Saul Morales squanders his second scoring chance by displaying little technique on his left foot. On this spot kick Christopher Hendricks gets the ball over the wall but also over the bar. However, Bryan Hernandez is fully awake now so he denies Delroy Andrews this attempt at score. At the Half Kraal Road asks Tyrone Linarez to make an important defensive stop and he does to prevent Harvey Cruz from scoring for San Felipe.
Now folks, this knee by goalkeeper Anthony Bernard on Ian Chi results in a penalty call by the referee. After much protestation from Kraal Road Harvey Cruz steps up for San Felipe Barcelona and he does not pardon Bernard as he ties the match at one piece at sixty-two minutes in. kraal Road answers back immediately when Gentle finds Leon Jones with this header and the visitors take the 2-1 lead at the sixty-fourth minute. Two minutes later San Felipe finds the equalizer when Jorge Ramos threads the needle to Ian Chi who smashes a mean right foot that Anthony Bernard couldn’t do anything about. Kraal Road then looks to win it off this corner kick but again Bryan Hernandez comes up with a big intervention. Ian Chi, in a bid to win it for Barcelona, launches this wicked spot kick that forces Bernard into a tough save. But it’s Delroy Andrews with the best chance to win it for Kraal Road but Hernandez comes up with the biggest save of the game for Barcelona to preserve the 2-2 regulation tie.
In the other playoff matchup, Texmar Boys and Valley Renaissance also battled to a 2-2 stalemate in a spirited affair. Week two of the playoffs finds Valley Renaissance hosting San Felipe at the Carl Ramos four p.m. Sunday. And here in Belize City, Kraal Road will get a visit from Texmar Boys for a four p.m. match this Sunday.
In basketball news, action in the Yabra Community Base juvenile basketball marathon saw seven teams participate in the under fifteen class. In money time Poor and Famous jolted Sunset Boulevard 20-10 to take that title. At the under seventeen level, which featured six teams, Belize Bank Bulldogs stopped Mesop Bulldogs 29-27 to take that championship and we say congratulations to both winners.
In cricket news, we take you out to Lords Bank for the opening match in a three game series for the Belize Rural Cricket title with Brilliant Crooked Tree batting against Excellence of Double Head Cabbage. Brilliant came up with a triple digit 137 runs against the bowler of Excellence and indeed it proved to be a bridge too far in the end. In their turn at bat, Excellence was held to a mere 63 runs. Landis Wade was the big reason striking for four wickets, but he got help from Marlon Nicholas who came up with three. Game two comes up this Saturday at Lords Bank and Brilliant of Crooked Tree is only one game away from their third title in a row which would give them ownership of the prestigious Harrison Parks Trophy so stay tuned.
Finally folks, the Belize Cricket Association announces an umpire course set for Sunday February eighth, nine a.m., at Sandhill. Make use of it.
We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
