James Adderley has play by play action in Sports Monday

James Adderley

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and we bring you yet another splash of Sports Monday. we head immediately to La Democracia on the Western Highway for the start of Saturday’s forty mile race presented by the Belize City association which would run through the hills to the Sibun Bridge on the Hummingbird Highway and swing back to finish at the village of Armenia. And it’s fifty-eight riders representing the four categories being featured that blast off at the start. Marlon Castillo of Zamir is the on the pace when the race rolls into the Hummingbird at the Belmopan junction. However, the chase bunch is not about to let a serious player like Marlon Castillo out of their sight as things intensify. In the meantime, the sight you’re beholding highlights one of the most negative variables in cycling. This pile up to the right of your screen is fraught with danger as riders and their machines clash together before reaching the unforgiving asphalt. Tariq Cano of Indeco gets the worst of this accident and here he lies unconscious. Darnell Barrow of Santino’s is dazed momentarily but he would continue. Master Cruz of Zamir is obviously hurt in a sensitive area. Both Mateo and Cano would be taken immediately to the Belmopan Hospital where they would be treated and then released. At the turn around point, this four man unit has jumped to the lead but the main pack is not very far behind. Folks, with the finish line in sight, Armides Rivas has made good his escape. He climbs this hill with two chasers on his trail but he nevertheless crosses the finish to give team Zamir the big W. His teammates Giovanni Choto and Marlon Castillo follow in that order to make it a Zamir sweep. The two Clear the Land youngsters Daezan Spence and Austin Armstrong round out the top five finishes in that order.

Shalini Zabaneh wins the female class. Daezan Spence takes the junior classification while at the master class, Philip Dawson prevails. The next big event on the cycling calendar will be the Digicell Valentine Cycling Classic, and eighty-two mile ride on the Western Highway set for this Sunday, February fourteenth so stay tuned.

In other cycling news, here’s the finish to the Smart Weekend Warriors race staged yesterday from Cotton Tree to Data Pro at the boom Junction. It’s a big field sprint – Roque Matus of M&M engineering has a flash back to the glory days as he burns rubber for first place, Andre Ordonez of Fabrigas hangs on for second, Fitzgerald “Polas” Joseph pulls up third, Albert Conorquie fourth while Andrew “Papa” Brown rounds out the top five.

Turning to the football scene, the first division season for the smart challenges cup continues to roll as yesterday Ebony Lake and BWEL Jaguars clashed inside the M.C.C. Grounds. It’s Ebony Lake looking for the early lead off the set piece but the header by David Robateau travels high over the crossbar. The Lake continues to press when Kareem Rivero gets this look at goal that just inches past the upright. At the other end, Raul Ramirez, is thwarted by goalkeeper Nigel Burgess who didn’t have to do much to come up with the save. On this play we can only say that David Robateau is suffering from a bad case of indecision, which allows Rodrigo Arana to make the clearance for BWEL. It’s another set piece for Ebony Lake – this one just outside the eighteen but Cravel Young is denied by the crossbar and his subsequent attempt to head the ball in, sails over the sticks. At the half we have no score.

Folks, we’re in early second half when this cheeky chip from Jermaine Zuniga finds David Robateau, who squanders a one on one look at the goal. In the meantime, poor defense gives Jermaine Zuniga this open look at goal only to be denied by the heroics of Anael Lopez now in the goal for BWEL. On this Lake press, Robateau picks out Zuniga, who is denied by the crossbar and yes, Jermaine you should have put this one away. Folks, we’re seventy-five minutes into the ballgame when Ernest Flores mounts this individual effort first with the steal, then with the finish as BWEL takes a 1-zip lead. A word to BWEL, only the referee can stop the game as Zuniga takes advantage of BWEL’s protest mode to quickly find David Robateau who shakes the net to force the 1-1 tie at the eighty-sixth minutes and that’s how it ended.

In other first division results, Brown Bombers routed Vinfa FC 6-zip and City Boys United, formerly Kraal Road, out gunned Atlantic Insurance 5-2. Thus, as it stands now, City boys United lead with 33 points, the Brown Bombers and Ebony Lake show 32 points apiece, Rangers FC has 19, Atlantic Insurance and BWEL Jaguars 16 points each, Vinfa FC 7 and United FC in the cellar with 2 points. Regular season for the Smart Challenge Cup concludes February twelfth at the M.C.C. Grounds with Rangers FC taking on Brown Bombers and we’ll keep you posted.

Meanwhile folks, the B.P.F.L. opens the Caribbean Motors Cup with eight teams in the hunt. Things kick off this Saturday at the M.C.C. Grounds with F.C. Belize hosting BRC Blaze. On Sunday San Pedro will host Shanaiah Corozal, Paradise Freedom Fighters will be at the Toledo Union field against Georgetown Ibayani and at the M.C.C. Grounds the defending champion Belize Defence Force clashes with Hankook Verdes.

Finally in cricket news, the National Cricket Competition is the rage in the Belize Rural. On Saturday Sunrise of Lords Bank downed the victory Western Eagles 135 runs to 94 as Tyrine Bud put up 21 runs and Jenroy Roca struck for 4 wickets. Germain Pook was the big man in the loss with 19 runs batted in while Dirk Sutherland recorded 3 wickets. Over at Sandhill Brilliant of Crooked Tree blazed to a 196-57 big W over the host team Bright Star as Baron Westby batted in the game high 39 runs and Howell Gillett struck for 4 wickets. Edwin Seguro of Bright Star batted in 13 runs and bowled for 4 wickets in the loss. Meanwhile, Unfinished Business of Biscayne beat RG One Love 58-56, Berlan of Landing got over Brave Union 118-117, while Wicked Eleven beat Sailos and Surprise got past Kolby Strikers but we couldn’t get inside the numbers.

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.