Alpheus Williams AIDS Day Cycling Classic
Good evening, I’m James Adderley so strap on for this evening’s ride on Sports Monday. The second round of the B.F.L. Tournament got underway this weekend and Acros Bombers of Belize City, who came in with one win of nine previous games, were hoping for a big turn around against La Victoria at the M.C.C. Grounds Sunday.
It’s a cold and rainy weather that greets this match-up and it’s some seven minutes in when the Acros Bombers display their inability to finish. La Victoria answers with a long-range spotkick that forces the keeper into a flying save, which he makes.
Meanwhile can you believe the sequence in front of the Acros goal? Fifteen minutes in two Acros defenders seem to be assisting the other side. The punch from left side makes it one-nil in favor of Corozal. Sometimes you do get away with defensive mistakes but not this time for the Bombers whose failure to clear leaves Rangel Vargas open and he puts Corozal ahead two-zip at the twenty-fifth minute of the first half.
In second half it’s more of the same until number eleven launches a power shot that inches over the crossbar. It’s another brilliant save for the Acros keeper off a corner to keep the deficit at two. La Victoria looks for its third off this rebound but the shot inches outside the far post. A shot from Hall creates anxious moments for the Acros team but passes without damage. La Victoria goes on to post a two-zip victory after loosing two straight.
In other football action around the league Culture Yabra absorbed its first defeat of the season from a two-one punch by Belmopan Bandits and that’s big. What’s big is Grigamandala’s shocking Sagitun two-zip out at Dangriga. At the island the Dolphins issue a five-one hurt on defending champion Juventus of Orange Walk. And Real Verdes blanked Ambergris Turquoise four-nil at the Norman Broaster Stadium.
Turning to the cycling scene the solitary figure of Francisco “the Animal” Flores enters the National Stadium for the big finish of the 1999 Alpheus Williams AIDS Day Classic which left Belmopan for Belize City. Around the first lap Flores is caught by Fred Usher as Quinton Hamilton and Douglas Lamb try to reach the front. And of course the pelathon is still intact.
It’s the final lap when Fred Usher appears all alone in the lead and he consolidates that lead to grab the big “W” in impressive fashion forcing Flores into second. Quinton Hamilton outsprints Douglas Lamb for third place. Jose Choto of Cayo and teammate Shane Vasquez grab positions five and six.
If you’re looking for the defending champion Ernest Meighan he finishes eleventh out sprinting archrivals Mateo Cruz and Andrew Smiling. He thus extends his lead over Smiling for the Cyclist of the Year Award to eleven points.
In mountain bike news, Paul Trapp of Hattieville won Sunday’s FM 2000 Race on the Northern Highway as Troy Burns finished second and Roilan Fuller third.
That’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place. Jah over all. I’m James Adderley.
