Toledo Team tops triathlon relay
Good evening I?m James Adderley with this massive dish of Sports Monday on your TV dial. Week two of the Regent?s Cup Playoffs took us to captivating Calcutta in Corozal where the home team Bulls played host to a red hot Juventus ball club from inside Orange Walk.
Thus it?s no surprise that the Calcutta Bulls attack in the very opening minute off this header by Derwin Innis, and while Charlie Slusher makes the initial stop, one can clearly spot the defender on the ground inside the goal swat the ball out of the goal with his left hand. The blame for this missed penalty call must be charged to either the head referee David Jones or his western flank linesman.
Folks, it?s all Bulls in the opening, but again its Derwin Innis with the big miss, this time from point-blank range.
Meanwhile, at the other end Juventus gets its first look at goal. And guess what, Christopher Hendricks times his run perfectly to lift the ball easily over Geovany Rodriguez in goal and we have a 1-zip lead.
Five minutes later, Oliver Hendricks displays his speed by running past the Bulls defence and then smokes Rodriguez in a one on one situation to give O.W. a 2-zip lead.
However, the home team pulls one back about six minutes later when Ruben Mossiah centres into the danger zone. The ball somehow reaches Leonard Augustine and his header puts the Bulls on the scoreboard.
So Juventus looks to regain its two goal lead, but this right foot splice by Oliver Hendricks screeches dangerously past the goal mouth.
On this press, Derys Benavides almost gets help from the Bulls defence to beat Geovany Rodriguez, but the goalkeeper reacts in time.
Meanwhile folks, this spot kick forces the Juventus defence to hand the ball in front of the goal and this time referee Jones does get the play right.
The Calcutta Bulls send for Derwin Innis for the penalty conversion. However, Charlie Slusher reads him like a book to come up with a crucial save for Juventus.
Not surprisingly folks, the missed penalty kills the Bulls? momentum and Juventus almost makes it a 3-1 lead right here, except for the great work of Geovany Rodriguez.
Just before the half expires El Gigante Perez launches this outside bomb pushed off by Slusher; Juventus goes into intermission with a 2-1 lead.
So we go to second half, and right away Juventus looks for more, but Rodriguez foils this close-range attempt from Derys Benavides.
The Bulls reply with this power launch from Gigante Perez that screams over the crossbar.
Fourteen minutes into second half, Derys Benavides triggers this spot kick that beats an embarrassed Geovany Rodriguez as Orange Walk takes a 3-1 lead.
Of course people, the Bulls would never be able to get back into this ballgame by squandering chances like this one right here.
In the final minutes, it?s a beaten Bulls team that allows Dean Flowers to find Oliver Hendricks in front of the goal. Oliver?s left foot push forces the 4-1 final score. O.W. wins big at Calcutta.
In the other playoff match, the San Pedro Seahawks stunned the defending champions 3-1 in regulation play yesterday out at the island.
Thus after week two of the playoff action, Juventus leads with six points, San Pedro show three, so does Sagitun while the Bulls are yet to get on the win column in this four team B.P.F.L. playoffs.
This week?s schedule finds San Pedro at Calcutta on Sunday, while Sagitun will host Juventus Saturday night at Independence.
Changing gears folks, let?s head to the Sandlighters Promenade here in Belize City where the Belize National Triathlon Association presented its first relay triathlon yesterday featuring point nine miles of swimming, twenty-four miles of biking, and six miles of running that brought out seventeen entries.
The event gets off with the swim event as seventeen athletes try to master the tranquil Caribbean Sea. Nevertheless, it quickly becomes clear the Jocelyn Finch of Team Toledo is a cut above the rest in this particular event, and she comes out of the water to give Team Toledo a seven minute led. Team-mate Jon Self gets the tag and he sets off on the twenty mile ride with a sizeable lead.
Next out of the water is the BATSUB team in the person of Wolly Wolger who tags team-mate Gabriel Lovell, while Melanie McField is third out of the sea and her riding team-mate is Quinton ?The Baddest? Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Jon Self of Team Toledo has certainly utilised the lead given to him by the phenomenal Finch to ride in some minutes ahead of the chase pack. He tags Jim Scott who is off and running.
Elite rider Quinton Hamilton comes in second in the biking event to tag team member Dr. Victor Rosado. And it?s Gabriel Lovell pulling up third to tag Allison Trapp.
We fast forward to the finish and respect is due to my man Jim Scott who is able to fend off all challengers to run in alone and give the mighty big W to Team Toledo.
In second place, Allison Trapp of BATSUB. And we remind you he had started in second place as his team settles for second overall.
However, the big surprise is the third place finish of the runnist Louis Haulze who started off in seventh place and worked his way up to third, passing four worthy contenders along the way. Big respect Mr. Man as the Three Degrees comprised of Patrick Palacio, female cross country champ Anthea Sutherland, and the mighty force Haulze. And we say to the organisers, good show.
Jocelyn Finch, Team Toledo, Triathlon Champs
?They just told me, go out and do your best and give us a lead. And that?s all I did, I just watched the rest of them and try to get us as big of a lead as I could.?
James Adderley
?A comment about the level of competition.?
Jocelyn Finch
?All of them competitors did very well. They all were swimming great and I just tried to stay a little bit ahead of them.?
Jon Self, Team Toledo, Triathlon Champs
?I try to train as much as possible. I have a busy schedule and so I ride when I can. I know there?s a lot of good riders out here today; all I was trying to do was take the lead that she got us and stay out in front and not lose it.?
Jim Scoot, Team Toledo, Triathlon Champs
?Going to the last leg I knew I was the weak link James, I was the weak link. But you know, you have to bank on your attributes and assets. We had Jon and we have Joce here and they did well, they were some good competition out here. But as they say, as you get older you get wiser, so you recruit the fast ones to take care of your weaknesses.?
The next event on the calendar brings up the Sprint Triathlon, which is slated for July seventeenth 2005.
Finally, in cycling news, the Santino?s Bike Club Cross Country event for A and B riders comes up this Sunday May twenty-second, running from Cayo to Belize City. And for certain, you won?t want to miss it.
That?s our show for today; we invite you back same place, same time next week. Jah over all, I?m James Adderley.
