San Pedro tops Calcutta in B.P.F.L. playoffs

Good evening, I?m James Adderley with this fresh dish of Sports Monday. Week three of the Regent?s Cup playoffs took us again to Calcutta at Corozal where the home team Bulls hosted the sizzling San Pedro Seahawks on Sunday.

Still looking for its first playoff win, the Bulls attack off this set piece and while Halum Rodriguez shows off an educated left foot, the ball does veer outside the sticks. It?s more set piece offence for the Calcutta Bulls when this corner kick finds the head of Derwin Innis, but his launch inches past the far upright.

At the other end, Julio Valle triggers this spot-kick that gives Captain Jarbi Alvarez a chance to open the scoreboard, but the ball bounces on the wrong side of the sticks.

On this press, Vallan Simms fires this left foot, and helped by a defensive deflection, almost grabs the islanders on to the scoreboard which almost brings the operative word.

Meanwhile, this left foot from Clifford Usher does beat the San Pedro keeper Caliz, but the defence is well planted to make a crucial stop.

So Edwardo ?Gigante? Perez decides to test the San Pedro keeper from long range only to create excitement.

At the half we do have a scoreless ballgame.

We go to second half and in the first real press, Perez keeps this ball alive for Clifford Usher and his trick shot tangles in the net to give the Bulls a 1-zip lead.

The response from San Pedro is immediate, but ?El Matador? Julio Valle certainly squanders this wonderful opportunity.

It?s San Pedro on the move off this spot-kick–Geovany Rodriguez shops the initial header by John Trapp, but Jarbi Alvarez does squander yet another scoring opportunity.

Folks, for Jarbi Alvarez the third time proved to be the charm as he smashes this right foot past Geovany Rodriguez to force the 1-1 tie.

It?s getting late, so the Bulls look for the game winner from Clifford Usher, but his offering this time crashes against the crossbar.

Downfield, the Seahawks try to steal the win off this header, but Rodriguez stands firm, and after regulation play we still have a 1-1 tie.

In overtime play, Halum Rodriguez fires this spot-kick that is complicated by goalkeeper Hilberto Caliz, nevertheless the moment passes.

Folks we?re in the final moments of overtime play when Esteban Hall finds Manuel Manzanero who really should have done better with delightful this chance.

So we go to penalty kicks for the game decision. Vallan Simms looks convincing as he gives San Pedro a 1-goal lead. Edwardo Perez comes up and misses for the Bulls. Julio Valle?s left foot makes it a 2-zip Seahawks lead. Derwin Innis gets Calcutta its first penalty conversion. Captain Jarbi Alvarez could not extend the San Pedro lead from the penalty spot. ?Calbo? Usher does come up with the conversion for the Bulls. ?Bunny? Flowers makes it 3-2 in favour of San Pedro. Halum Rodriguez then misses for Calcutta. Landi Pinelo, who came in off the bench for San Pedro could not help his team. And then the Bulls? Randy Casanova hits the crossbar with his offering as San Pedro Seahawks post the big W in week three, 3-2 on penalty kicks.

In the other playoff match, Sagitun scorched Juventus 1-zip Saturday night at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence.

Thus after three weeks, three teams are tied with six points apiece: Sagitun, Juventus, and San Pedro; while the Calcutta Bulls still show no points.

This Sunday finds Sagitun at Juventus, while the Calcutta Bulls travel to San Pedro.

Turning to the cycling scene, here are the sixty-two athletes who started yesterday?s non-elite cross country classic presented by Santino Castillo which kicked off at nine a.m. at La Loma Luz Clinic and would finish some sixty-seven miles later at the Acros headquarters on the Western Highway.

Leroy Trapp takes command of the race quickly after grabbing the station prize at Running W, sweeping all station prizes until he is caught around mile thirty-one by George Abraham.

However, at mile five both riders are reeled in by a powerful chase group led by Roque Matus.

So here comes the field sprint. Everybody?s on all out, but today belongs to Roque Matus of M and M Engineering who crosses the finish line in a time of two hours, fifty-seven minutes, thirty-eight seconds to take top prize people.

Give respect to Santino Castillo who finishes second in his own classic, Chris Peyrefitte of Team Energizer pulls up third, Palas Joseph takes fourth, while my man Kenneth Butler rounds out the top five.

On the female side, it was Fiona Humes-Gonzalez grabbing top honours yesterday and we say congratulations.

In closing, we just want to say congratulations of our own to my daughter, Jaada Adderley, who was voted Miss Debutant Ebenezer Methodist Church 2005. Hey keep up the good work girl.

That?s it for now, Jah over all! I?m James Adderley.