Football, cycling dominate weekend sports
Good evening, I?m James Adderley with this week?s edition of Sports Monday. As the spectre of missing the 2005 Regent?s Cup playoffs looms over Kulture Yabra, the city team hosted the San Pedro Seahawks yesterday at the MCC Grounds in a must-win situation.
With two outings to the conclusion of regular season play, Yabra captain Norman ?Tilliman? Nunez comes out looking for the early lead with this individual effort that hits the side netting.
The Islanders respond with this header from Landi Pinelo that finds Yabra keeper Elroy Rawley well positioned, at least this time.
In the meantime, this is a costly turn over for the host team right here, as the ball reaches Deon Frazier and his left foot beats Rawley to the near post as San Pedro takes a 1-zip lead, twenty-two minutes in.
Yabra tries to even things off this set piece, but the ball bends directly to the keeper who makes the stop, and at the half San Pedro leads 1-nil.
In second half, Yabra attacks again off the set piece and maybe he should have gotten the equalizer from one of these two players streaking in on the left side.
At the other end, this slice from the San Pedro forward could have doubled their lead, but the ball inches over the crossbar.
Talk about a defensive slip, Vallan Symms almost hurts his keeper with this slice, but the problematic moment does pass.
Sixteen minutes into second half, Yabra goes to the set piece again, this time though ?Tilliman? finds Tyrone Muschamp whose right foot push ties the ballgame at 1-apiece and their celebration is certainly heartfelt.
Yabra then tries to grab the lead off this spot kick, but Nunez?s launch is intercepted by good goalkeeping.
Some ten minutes, later the Islanders get this spotkick just outside the eighteen. Vallan Symms let?s go the right foot that should have been easily controlled by Elroy Rawley–instead the ball bounces off his body to Deon Frazier who scores his second goal of the match to give the Seahawks a 2-1 lead.
Sensing its playoff hopes evaporating, Yabra pushes the pace as Tilliman again sets table for Tyrone Muschamp who fails to raise the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
Folks, it?s another spotkick that gives Yabra this chance to score, but the San Pedro keeper does give up his body to come up with the big time save.
We?re in the closing minutes of this confrontation when Tyrone Muschamp finds Norman Nunez who opts for the right-away long-range missile which hits the target to force the 2-2 final score. Thus Yabra gets a point and the Seahawks gets one too in week twelve of the Regent?s Cup.
In other results from around the league, defending champion Sagitun scorched Juventus 3-2 Saturday night, Kremandala Lake and Calcutta Bulls bolted to a 2-2 stalemate, while Cayo Avengers contributed to Print Belize Griga?s pointless season so far with a 3-zip drubbing out west.
With two weeks or regular season play to go people, Sagitun leads with 29 points, Juventus shows 23, San Pedro 21, and Cayo Avengers 19. And if the playoffs were to start today, these would be the four teams to make it. Kulture Yabra its with 13 points might have an outside shot if Cayo Avengers fail to pick up one more point. Calcutta Bulls with 12 points, but with three games remaining also have an outside shot at the post season. For Krem, with twelve points, the playoffs is a bridge too far, while for Griga who show no points at this juncture of the season?well we can only say the season has been a nightmare.
Looking to week thirteen, Sagitun will host the San Pedro Seahawks Saturday night, while on Sunday Calcutta Bulls face Juventus, Kulture Yabra travels to Griga, Kremandala Lake will be at the M.C.C. Grounds against Cayo Avengers.
Turning to the cycling scene, nineteen riders started yesterday?s non-elite cycle race presented by Kevin?s Barber Shop which ran from Belize City to Hattieville and back. Poppa Brown?s cycle team suited up five men to take on the barber shop crew, and as we scan the start, you can tell that this ride is serious today.
At mile eight, it?s Bert Sabido taking the first station prize, while our boy Chris Mangar is not having a good day today, so he opts for an early exit.
Michael Henry then steps up to capture the preemie at Gran?s Farm. Meanwhile, another one of our colleagues, Stephen Ferguson–you know him from pass races–he would finish twelfth today. He encounters both mechanical and physical problems in this thirty-four mile journey.
However, one the return trip Ronald Meighan establishes his dominance taking all remaining station prizes. And here he is raising his hand in triumph as he crosses the finish line in unchallenged fashion to pick up the W.
His team-mate Michael Henry steps up for second place; Alex White, another team-mate, then comes in for third place; and can you believe this, sponsor Poppa Brown pulls up fourth, and the George Henry finishes fifth as the Poppa Brown team sweeps the five top spots to embarrass the Barber Shop riders in their own race. I guess we?ll have to send Rhett Reyes and Kwame Scott at the Poppa Brown cycle team.
Nevertheless folks, that?s it for now, we want to thank our cameramen for their great work over the weekend. Jah over all, I?m James Adderley.
