James Adderley has weekend sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and we’re certainly glad you could join us for this issue of Sports Monday.
Week eight of the RF&G Tournament saw Football Club Belize venture into the People’s Stadium yesterday with its undefeated status and league leading standing on the line as they took on O.W.’s Suga Boys Juventus, whose playoff hopes could already be in jeopardy. And indeed it’s a picture perfect start for the home team when Christopher Hendricks finds Derwin Inis, Elroy Rawley is beaten and Juventus is up 1-zip four minutes in. A minute later Derwin Inis gets to be the hero and give his team an early 2-nil lead instead he misses an important chance for Suga City. It’s all Juventus in the drivers seat when Dean Flowers applies this slice that drifts wide. Speaking of Dean Flowers this one on one chance against Rawley should have been converted as Juventus continues to throw away goals. The misses comeback to bite them at the eighteenth minute when Cristobal Gilharry centers dangerously in front of the goal mouth and it’s Jeromy James who reaches it first to tie the ballgame at one apiece. On this pass going the other way Dean Flowers beats the F.C. defense but can’t get any power on the punch to make it count. It’s more Juventus when Oliver Hendricks finds Christopher Hendricks whose header is potent but right at the keeper. Christopher then gets his chance to break the tie, Rawley bobbles, but Dean can’t get to it. Hey people, what’s up with Suga Boys today as Freddy Tun misses the go ahead goal? However, Donnie Tun makes no mistake with the target as he crushes this ball into the near corner to give O.W. a 2-1 lead just before intermission. We’re at the kick off play for second half when Thurton sends this ball forward, James keeps it alive. Byron Usher outruns his man and just like that it’s a 2-2 ballgame at the forty-sixth minute of play. However, Suga Boys breaks the tie when Christopher heads to Dean Flowers who heads into the net and it’s a 3-2 O.W. lead. The home-team is then reduced to nine men after Derwin Inis becomes the second Juventus player to be chased for this foul from behind in a tense ballgame. The numerical advantage gives F.C. Belize a new zest for this ballgame and number twelve, Byron Usher, should have tied it here for them. Desperation sets in for John Smith on this play and indeed he should have been carded for this ugly decision. It’s getting late when John Smith flicks to Shannon Flowers who ties the ballgame at three apiece. At the kick off Floyd Jones gives possession at defence for Suga Boys to Jeromy James through carelessness and the striker makes him pay to win the ballgame for F.C. Belize in a stunning 4-3 score to remain atop the standings and to remain undefeated.
In other action around the league Nizhee Corozal stung defending champion Hankook Verdes 1-zip, Llagulei and Benque D.C. settled for a 2-2 draw, Wagiya edged San Pedro 1-zip for its first season win and the Belize Defence Force marched over Georgetown Ibayani 1-nil. Thus, after eight weeks undefeated F.C. Belize leads the north zone with twenty points, Corozal is next with fourteen, both Verdes and Juventus record nine apiece while San Pedro shows eight points. Over in the south Llagulei leads with fifteen points, B.D.F. now has thirteen, Georgetown eleven, Benque D.C. five, while Wagiya now has four points and that’s big news. In the meantime folks, we just want to tell you that the RF&G Tournament will be taking a pause for the independence celebrations that come up this weekend.
Turning to the Belize Bank Super League Tournament, Lake-Collet Survivors hosted San Felipe Barcelona inside the M.C.C. Grounds on Saturday night. And here we’re only four minutes in when Kevin Rowland picks out David McCauley whose shot is pushed out by goalkeeper Bryan Hernandez to Albert Arnold who smacks it in for the quick 1-zip Survivors lead. At the other end they pick out Oscar Acevedo for the equalizer but he misses the attempt at the header badly. Off this throw in San Felipe Barcelona almost came up with the goal but emphasis remains on almost. In the meantime folks, we didn’t see what happened to Luis Acevedo away from the play. But we do know Kevin Rowland is red carded off the field of play for this particular incident. Moving left Leon Rawley gets this look at goal but his offering leaves a whole lot to be desired. Thirty-four minutes in Luis Acevedo launches this left foot, Nigel Grant fails to protect the net and we have a 1-1 ballgame. In early second half play this set piece triggered by Paul Bradley is misplayed by the keeper but the Survivors can’t capitalize. We’re at the sixty-seventh minute when Paul Bradley heads this ball to Albert Arnold who scares the game winner with his second of the match as Lake-Collet Survivors pick up all three points for San Felipe Barcelona.
In other action around the league, Barrio Fino beat Lucky Strike 2-1, Kraal Road ran over Western Rebels 3-1, Texmar Boys stopped Cayo South 3-1 and Tsunami F.C. outlasted Valley Renaissance in a 4-3 blast.
Finally folks, we turn to the cycling scene as we bring you up to speed with the Weekend Warriors Stage race that’s currently in session. Stage one was won by Evander Bennett of L.A. Princess, Carlo Marin of Health Max took second place and Adrian Heusner of Benny’s Megabytes rounds out the top three.
That’s all for today though. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Before we go we want to tell you happy twenty-first celebrations. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
