Raiders take game one of finals
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and you’ve just logged on to Sports Monday. In the Regent Insurance Cup opener at the M.C.C. Grounds, Kulture Yabra was held to a scoreless draw by visiting Juventus team of Orange Walk. It’s the beginning of the second round and the regular season play and yes, these two teams clashed again at the People’s Stadium in prime time yesterday.
Juventus strikes as Edon “Yellowman” Rawley fires from outside, but Shane Moody raises and handles for Kulture Yabra.
Things get even more intense when Elroy Kuylen fires this left foot that crashes into the net, but a foul had been committed before the shot, making it null and void.
The O.W. team continues to attack, as Deon Flowers centres into the danger zone and again, Kuylen cannot convert. This time downfield Flowers flashes a right foot at Moody, who had the angle covered.
We must ask what’s up with the Yabra defence as they narrowly escape unscathed on this press by Orange Walk. So the city team gets busy?Daniel Thomas moves his man inside the eighteen and sets table for Deon Frazier, whose shot is blocked.
But the danger is not over yet?Ernest Wiltshire’s shot at goal is impeded by good defence, but the pill bounces to Deon Frazier and the result is a 1-zip Yabra lead thirty-three minutes in.
Yabra looks for more when Norman “Tilliman” Nunez fires from long range, but Darren Hinds is there to make the stop.
We go to second half with Juventus looking for the equaliser, but this shot from outside misses the target. O.W. then attacks again with this high floater, but Shane Moody remains unimpressed.
At the other end, Nunez sets table for Deon Frazier, who fires the left foot, but Darren Hinds dives and handles.
Nunez is still looking to double the lead for Yabra when he guides this spotkick to the goal, only to see Hinds take care of biz.
Meanwhile, this bullet from Itamar Castellano rises over the crossbar as Orange Walk has to settle for the 1-zip loss for a second week in a row, while Yabra remains at the head of the class with five wins, two draws and a loss, which adds up to a league leading seventeen points.
In other Regent’s Cup play over the weekend, Builder’s Hardware Bandits kept pace with Kulture Yabra by crushing Real Verdes 3-1. Sagitun was held to a 1-1 tie at Griga United, and Jacintoville shocked the Seahawks 1-zip at San Pedro.
Turning to the basketball scene, game one of the five game semi-pro championship kicked off Friday night at the City Centre as B.T.L. Nets hosted the Raiders.
And it’s Kirk Burgess getting the Raiders off quickly with this long deuce. However, when Marcus Watkins rises for three here, the ballgame is tied at sixteen apiece. It’s another three from Watkins, but this time it gives B.T.L. Nets an eight-point lead.
Clinton Fuller gives the Raiders a big push when he goes all the way for two, gets the bucket and the foul; would complete the three-point play. At the half the Nets are up by three.
In second half action, Bovell finds Keith Acosta, who monsters his way to the dunk. The Raiders response comes from Darwin Carter, who swishes for three points.
Okay, so you know it’s a tight ballgame, B.T.L. has a one-point lead. Watch Bovell fouls Darwin Carter?he would sink both free throws to give the Raiders a 96-95 big W in game one. Game two is set for Wednesday at the City Centre.
In billiards news, the National Guinness Eight Ball Pool Tournament moves into the final round this weekend and we caught up with the details.
John Waight, Belikin Representative
“Now this is an open invitation for all billiards people. I promise you it’s going to be one of the biggest events. We are going to see and witness the sharp pool players throughout the country, so don’t miss it. It will be held at Catt’s Place on the seventh of September, this coming Sunday. We have teams from Corozal, Los Sanchos. We have Cayo Lily’s Guest House, and we have from Punta Gorda Challengers.”
Otto Cattouse, Catt’s Place
“First of all, we didn’t like what happened to us last year when advance beat us. All we needed was one game to repeat as champs and we couldn’t get that one game. So this year they came back with what you would say redemption time and our players pull it out and came out on top of the heap to represent Belize City this year again.”
Finally folks, the bodybuilding team representing Belize at the Central American Games at Honduras returned home this morning with historic success.
Guy Neal, Team Manager
“It was very successful, it’s the first time that we have the most gold medals, so it was quite a good time. In all the categories we did very well.”
Dillon Vernon, Gold Medallist
“I think that the competition was very intense and I think that everybody did their best; team Belize came out on top with three gold medals.”
Andrew Flowers, Team Manager
“I think the athletes from Belize City made it very, very easy for me, because they were in tip top condition. Particularly the first fields, these guys literally blew away the field, except for the welterweight, where there was some bit of a heavy competition, but in the end we prevailed.
We just want to give our personal congratulations to the bodybuilding team and we leave you with the images of the most successful bodybuilding team in the history of this nation.
We also take this opportunity to thank our cameramen for their great work, Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.
