Strong Fields Set To Compete In 2nd OECS Championships

June 23, 2016 by
Grenada's Lindon Victor, 2016 NCAA Division I Decathlon champion has qualified for Rio & is ranked #8 on the IAAF list

Grenada’s Lindon Victor, 2016 NCAA Division I Decathlon champion

By BVI Athletics Association

Organizers are expecting 150 visiting athletes and officials for the 2nd OECS Track and Field Championships scheduled for Tortola on July 2-3, at the A. O. Shirley Grounds, with non OECS member Puerto Rico’s Women’s 4x100m Relay team seeking to solidify their #16 ranking for the Rio Olympic Games.

The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago, have also shown interest, with the Bahamas looking at its Women and Men’s 4x100m and Women’s 4x400m and Trinidad and Tobago’s Women’s 4x400m Relay squad.

The meet, which will be the final opportunity to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games for the region’s athletes will also be a tune up for the July 15-17 NACAC U23 Championships in El Salvador and the IAAF World Jr. Championships in Poland, will also showcase more than a dozen Olympic Games qualifiers.

Teams from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and host BVI, will be battling for the overall team title. There will also be a women and men’s title at stake.

Grenada will feature 2016 NCAA Decathlon Champion Lindon Victor along with his brother Kurt Felix-the 2012 NCAA Decathlon champion-competing in individual events. Both have qualified for Rio with Victor ranked at No. 8 with 8446 points and Felix at No. 13 with 8302. Their lineup also included Carifta Games Javelin Throw Record holder Anderson Peters-who broke 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott’s meet record with a heave of 78.28m on his home soil in March. Female equivalent Candesha Scott who threw the spear 51.13m, will be trying to improve her mark.

The women’s High Jump will feature the St. Lucian pair of Jeanelle Schepper and Levern Spencer-both currently ranked among the top 15 jumpers in the world-with marks of 1.96 and 1.95m respectively. They will be joined by Antigua and Barbuda’s Priscilla Frederick who had a 1.91m best.

The meet’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete will walk off with the Joseph “Reds” Perreira Award, named in honor to the founder of the OECS Championships while the Female Athlete of the Meet will take home the Veda Bruno-Victor award, in honor of the longtime regional administrator.

St. Kitts-Nevis 10.03/20.41 Olympic sprinter Antoine Adams, and his 4x100m Rio bound relay teammates, will lead their squad that also includes OECS Record holder Tameka who has a 23.05 seconds 200m season’s best. Adams will find Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey with a 10.09 season best and Montserrat’s Julius Morris, an NCAA 200m semifinalist with a 20.52 best this season will set up the sprinting fire works.

Dominica’s Dillon Simon and the BVI’s Eldred Henry will do tango in the Shot Put, where the strong men have seasons bests of 19.18m and 19.39m respectively.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott-coming off a season’s best of 23.24 seconds in the 200m victory in Belgium and 11.39 seconds in the 100m and Ashley Kelly who has a 23.17 seconds 200m time this season, will lead the BVI sprint corps. Chantel Malone will lead the female field events charge in the Long Jump, after a 6.48m victory in California last weekend and has a 6.66m seasons best.

Harrigan-Scott, Kelly, Malone and Karene King, will seek to improve on their 44.05 seconds time against the Puerto Rican quartet of Beatrice Cruz, Genoiska Cancel Celiangely Morales and Carol Rodriguez, will seek to match their 43.55 seconds run in Rio last month.

Many of the OECS Championships Meet Records are expected to be destroyed as well as several BVI All Comers Records.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

A challenging weekend in St Thomas for VI youth sailors

June 22, 2016 by

By BVI Royal Yacht Club

Ryan Lettsome placed second in U10 white fleet at St Thomas International Optimist Regatta. Photo: Matias Capizzano

Ryan Lettsome placed second in U10 white fleet at St Thomas International Optimist Regatta. Photo: Matias Capizzano

The 2016 St Thomas International Optimist Regatta, presented by EMS Virgin Islands, took place from 17-19 June with the BVI represented by five sailors. Conditions throughout the weekend were very challenging with strong winds and big swell on the race course.

Four sailors raced in the 80-boat Championship fleet, Rayne Duff (red), Nathan Haycraft (blue), Ryan Lettsome (white) and Max Reshetiloff (red).

2014 champion, Rayne Duff was looking to re-take the title from rival, Mia Nicolosi but it was not to be this year. Despite winning more races than the ISV sailor, Duff also posted uncharacteristic scores on day one. A capsize in the first race lead to a 25th place finish and 21st in the final race on Friday was too much to recover from.

Unable to discard both of these double-digit scores, Duff ended the championship on a high with wins in the final two races but had to settle for fourth overall and third in the red fleet. Also racing in the red fleet was Max Reshetiloff who finished in 62nd overall and 34th in the red fleet.

Blue fleet racer Nathan Haycraft had a consistent weekend, taking his best finish in race six with a sixth. Finishing in 15th place overall secured fourth place in the blue fleet.

Ryan Lettsome finished in 56th place overall which earned him second place in the white fleet for sailors under 10. Lettsome sailed a consistent series with his best result coming in race seven which he finished in 37th place.

Twenty eight sailors competed in the green fleet and over the three days they completed 25 races. Kael Chalwell, who recently graduated from the KATS programme and joined the BVI Race Team, was competing at his first overseas regatta and finished an excellent 15th position. Chalwell put in a very solid performance, with seven race finishes in the top ten and a best race finish of third.

Next up for Team BVI is the Optimist North American Championships from 10-18 July in Antigua. Representing the BVI will be Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft, Kyle Roose and Ryan Lettsome.

Results
Red Fleet
3 Rayne Duff (4th overall)
34 Max Reshetiloff (62 overall)

Blue Fleet
4 Nathan Haycraft (15 overall)

White Fleet
2 – Ryan Lettsome (56 overall)

Green Fleet
15 – Kael Chalwell

Click here for photos

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: , ,

Olympic day activities celebrate the countdown to Rio 2016

June 21, 2016 by

OlypicDay2016 (7)The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) will be celebrating its annual Olympic Day event with multi-sport activities hosted at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, June 25th, 2016 from 2:30 pm – 6pm.

Based on the Olympic Day pillars of ‘Discover’, ‘Learn’, ‘Move’, activities kick off at 2:30pm with an opportunity for the public to discover a new sport and  learn about Archery, Rugby, Taekwondo, Squash, and Sailing from the representative national federations and by taking part in the interactive demonstrations.

Other highlights include the announcement of confirmed athletes to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Rio 2016 athletes’ slideshow, the unveiling of major Games uniforms, Rio ticketing information, tips and massages from Professionals for La Ambience Spa, the reading of the Olympic Day Message, and concluding with movement with the symbolic Olympic Day 2 mile run/walk through Road Town at 4:45pm.

The Virgin Gorda community will celebrate by assembling at the College grounds, Enid Pickering Building at the HLSCC Virgin Gorda Centre at 6:30am for the Olympic Day Run/Walk. Interested persons may contact Gloria L. Geoge at leolafoye@gmail.com and by mobile ‘phone on (284) 547 7404.

Free Olympic Day T-Shirts and Dasani water and Powerade, compliments of Road Town Wholesale (1975) Ltd., will be distributed to all participants.

Activities are open to adults and children of all ages and ability levels. Come out, take part and together let’s support the Olympic Movement!

For more information, please contact Cleave Farrigton, Executive Director, BVIOC by email at cmfarrington@bviolympics.org or by telephone on (284) 494 6920.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News Tagged With: , , , ,

Ballstars Champions of Wendoll Williams Women’s Cup

June 21, 2016 by
Champion Ballstars on the left and VG United Girls on the right. Photo: provided.

Champion Ballstars on the left and VG United Girls on the right. Photo: provided.

A Lilly Pierce hat trick sped the Lady Ballstars to a hard fought, but ultimately emphatic 5-0 win against Virgin Gorda United Ladies on Sunday 19th June in the Final of the Wendoll Williams Women’s Cup Final.

A battling performance from the younger, less experienced VG Girls all came undone mid way through the second half after the half time break had been reached with the Ballstars up 1-0 following a fine volley come lobbed shot by Emily Lockhart.

Lockhart played a deeper mid field role in the second half and earned the MVP honour for creating much of the danger and attacking goal scoring moves for her team.

Pierce’s goals, which also gave her the Tournament’s Golden Boot award, finally broke the resistance of VG.

“It feels great to win, I really enjoyed the curling effort from the edge of the box, but the whole team played well and put together some good moves”.

Pierce was full of praise for her opponents, but saw the Ballstars experience as a decisive factor in the win.

Captain, Sharlene Pond, also thought VG had played well and will be a team to watch out for in the future.

“We started short of players, but as a team we were able to hold ourselves together and come out as Champions. I am looking forward to seeing those VG girls again though, if they stick together and keep improving, it can only be good for the Women’s game as a whole”.

Yasmin Ruffel-Smith scored the 5th and final goal for the Ballstars.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With:

Digicel Centre of Excellence closes for summer with gala performance

June 20, 2016 by

By BVI Football Association

Digicel Centre of Excellence 2016 participants. Photo: BVIFA

Digicel Centre of Excellence 2016 participants. Photo: BVIFA

The participants of the Digicel Centre of Excellence from both Virgin Gorda and Tortola, put on a gala performance in front of coaches, peers, family and friends on Saturday at the Millicent Mercer Playing Field in Baughers Bay as the programme closed for summer.

The various age groups from Under 7’s right through to Under 17’s, Boys and Girls, showed off their newly honed technical skills and teamwork tactical plays in small sided games and each was viewed with appreciation from all those braving the hot sun.

Head coach of the Virgin Gorda Centre of Excellence, Thomas Albert, was very enthused by what he saw on the day and also from what he seen over the course of the programme this year.  “20 – 25 kids have come out on a regular basis and I have seen a lot of progress, even more so today, when I see the players I have worked with doing so well with their Tortola counterparts. The support of Digicel has been great as have the efforts of all the coaches and parents. Together we can show the world what having Digicel as Sponsors means to the F.A. and how they are supporting our youths.”

In the years to come, Albert believes that those with responsibility for selecting national teams are going to have a lot of problems. “In the next two to three years there will be a lot of talented players out there. The Under 13’s, especially are looking very good and even though the girls are now in a separate programme in preparation for a regional tournament, they too are getting better and better.”

Albert also believes that as more and more girls are becoming interested in playing and are also improving technically, it is time to plan separate leagues for them. “The Women’s League has created a pathway all the way from grassroots to the top levels of senior national teams and we have looked at the U9’s and U13’s and how to get them playing competitive leagues amongst themselves, to further improve the standards. I believe we can do it and, with the support of Digicel in the Centre of Excellence, have already seen increased participation and interest.”

The Digicel Centre of Excellence has already produced dividends at U13 level, when a team came back from a tournament in St Maarten, unbeaten but in third place, following a penalty shoot out loss and still the best performance of any team the Association had sent previously.

As F.A. President, Andy Bickerton explained to the participants as he thanked Digicel for its support of the Centre, the next focus is on U17 Boys. “We are delighted to have Digicel on board and today the boys and girls were able to showcase the progress being made with constant high level coaching. What was also important was that the U17 boys were here and they are off to a CONCACAF Championship Qualifier in Suriname at the end of July. They are a good example to the younger players as to what can be experienced and achieved through playing football. Peers are very important to help develop and encourage youngsters in any sport and that’s why I wanted to make sure the U17 were recognized and the younger ones who go to the same schools and live in the same areas realize that the opportunity of flying off to tournaments is there for all of them one day.”

Mr. Bickerton also commented that there was much to look forward to in Football with the new stadium getting closer and closer and how important the relationship is with Digicel. “The importance of the partnership with Digicel is obvious today and they should feel proud of what they are helping to create with the development of our youths. When we start playing on the Astro in East End, things will get even better, as the surface will enable the youths to get even better technically and we hope the partnership with Digicel will be a long term one.”

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: , ,

Mad Mix stun Stingers in BVIBF National League

June 16, 2016 by
Photo by Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Photo by Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

By VINO

The Basketball Federation’s National League came alive last night, Wednesday June 15, 2016, when Mad Mix repelled the Stingers, 84-81, in front of a small crowd at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex.

The Stingers had routed all previous opponents with a star studded line up of young exciting talent, but found a determined, disciplined Mad Mix in no mood to put up with losing and showing they were not in awe of their illustrious opponents.

The Mix, who have Kevon S. Lettsome as their head coach and Vancito E. Pickering Jr as the assisant, also have some key players and on the night the likes of Kimron Telemaque, Jahkeele Stevens and Stephon Caul more than matched the likes of D’Moi M. Hodge, Noel Maxwell, Ajai Frett and Tyler Cameron.

The Stingers led by 2 at the end of the first quarter, 14-12, but down by 1 at the half, 38-39 and from there the game opened up into a fierce end to end battle.

Mad Mix opened up a 3 point lead at the end of the third quarter, 58-55 and led by as much as six points during a frenetic last 10 minutes. With just over 60 seconds remaining it was a 1 point game, 79-78 and Hodge put his team ahead by one following a block, a steal and a basket, all in one flowing move from paint to paint. However, Mad Mix were not to be denied and went ahead by one with 30 seconds remaining following a visit to the charity stripe by Caul.

With 4 seconds on the clock and just one chance left for the Stingers a quick inbound pass and move saw Maxwell’s attempted 3 pointer bounce back off the rim and Mad Mix had won.

Stevens top scored with 20 points for Mad Mix, Caul added 19 points with 11 rebounds, Telemaque 11 points, Hakeem Penn notched 10 with 8 rebounds and Jamoi Dore tallied 8 assists.

For the Stingers, Hodge picked up 22 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists, Cameron 15 with 10 rebounds and Omar Walker 19 with 15 rebounds.

Other results

The BVI Basketball Federation League had a full slate of games over the last week, including the league’s first ever women’s contest on Saturday June 11, 2016.

And Oe topped Another Level 67-41 in the junior division, Krown Heights defeated the Spartans 67-61, and the Kings clobbered Law and Order 134-50.

On Saturday, the night kicked off with the junior division Stingers defeating Young Starz 93-60.

That was followed by the first ever ladies game, with the Lady Bull Dogs notching their first win in a 47-38 contest against the Rams. Alanah Chalwell, Joy Victor and Tamara Phillip all scored in the double digits for the Lady Bull Dogs, and Rams player Shauliqua Fahie led all scorers with 14 points.

The night was topped off All Ah Wee topping East 73-59. All Ah Wee player Aubrey Daniel led all scorers with 22 points.

Two games took place Sunday 12, 2016. In the junior division, Mad Mix beat down the Celtics 103-67, and Legs demolished Zero Tolerance 112-39.

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With:

Momentum & excitement building for 2016 Hon Julian Fraser STS Basketball League

June 16, 2016 by
Photo by VINO

Photo by VINO

By VINO

Momentum and excitement are building for the 2016 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League. The popular League, now in its fourth year, is to tip off on August 20, 2016 and end on October 30, 2016.

Currently, registration for teams, both male and female, is ongoing and inquiries have been at an all-time high for both senior and junior divisions.

According to Mrs Kharid T. Fraser, Chairwoman of the League, teams usually wait until the last week or so to complete their registration so at this stage she is unable to say how many teams will be involved.

“We usually have around 12 to 15 teams, and while we try to keep the league to around 15 teams we have never had cause to turn any teams away,” Mrs Fraser told Virgin Islands News Online.

Mrs Fraser also confirmed that teams have begun to make inquiries about registration.

When are the games?

One of the highlights of the August 20, 2016 start of the League is the handing over of the Digicel (BVI) sponsored rings to the 2015 champion team West Gunners, along with their banner to join the others in the Save the Seed Energy Centre, the home of the League.

Games will be played from Friday to Sunday (weekends only) and when necessary on a Wednesday night. This year the draft will take place again where each team can pick up a local elite player to help bring more talent, excitement and competitive spirit to their team.

All draft players will go back in the pool except the draft player for the championship team, who will be allowed to remain with his 2015 championship team West Gunners until a new championship team is named. A date will be announced, along with names of the players participating in the draft by next month.

Launching of League

According to Mrs Kharid T. Fraser, Chairwoman of the League, in the coming weeks the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League will be launched via a Press Conference with the Founders/Directors, Leader of the Opposition and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA and Bishop John I. Cline, Senior Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church and Energy Centre founder, being the main speakers. Also expected to give brief remarks will be Guy L. Malone, the President of the BVI Basketball Federation.

Get your registration form

Meanwhile, the Senior Team Registration is $250.00 per team, ages 15 plus. The Junior League, which is 9 to 14, is $150.00. All Junior League players’ registration forms must be accompanied with copies of passport or other government issued identification to confirm ages, according to League Officials.

Registration forms can be collected from any of the League Committee Members; however, completed forms with payment must be turned into the Hon Julian Fraser’s Sea Cows Bay Office, which is opened Monday to Friday from 1 PM to 6 PM.

The office is located west of the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in the gray two-storey building. Registration deadline is June 30, 2016 by 6:00 PM.

Registration fees include uniform tops and insurance for those without NHI coverage. Persons needing more information on team registration and dropping off forms can call 1 284-546-2637 or 1-284-340-1550.

The League is governed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, endorsed by the BVI Basketball Federation, and has its own by-laws and governing committee.

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With:

Bulldogs hold off charging Rams as BVIBF Women’s League gets underway

June 14, 2016 by

By VINO

Joi Victor on the attack for Bulldogs. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson / VINO

Joi Victor on the attack for Bulldogs at BVIBF Women’s League opening game. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson / VINO

After 40 odd years the BVI Basketball Federation (BVIBF) finally got a Women’s League underway as on Saturday June 11, 2016, the Bulldogs beat the Rams 47-38 at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex.

Whilst the first game of the night had featured another one sided win for the Stingers, the ladies game was an evenly matched seesaw affair between a bunch of talented female players.

On one side was the younger Rams, most of whom are part of the U16 squad in training for a tournament in Guyana, and on the other a more experienced cadre of girls, but it was the youngsters who stormed into an early lead, 17-7, to be up by ten at the end of the first quarter.

With bench rotations coming into effect and the likes of Joi Victor and Chelcey Hodge changing the dynamics for the Bulldogs, the deficit was almost wiped away by half time and the Rams led by just one , 22-21.

The game was still anyone’s and it was hard to tell who the quickly swelling crowd were backing, but at the end of a racous third quarter the Rams led by two at 30-28.

With Victor playing basketball like a high speed ballerina and Tamara Phillip solid under the rim at both ends of the court, the Bulldogs slowly began to overhaul the Rams and saw a 19 – 8 quarter see them over the line.

Phillip finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds, Victor 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals, Alana Chalwell 10 with 16 rebounds.

Shauliqua Fahie top scored for the Rams with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 assists and 4 steals, Claury Scatliffe notched 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, Mahkalya Pickering also scored 8 points and added 3 steals, whilst Myka Walwyn grabbed 8 rebounds.

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With: ,

Farley Upsets Stoby In Ceres Juices 10k Series Opener

June 14, 2016 by

By BVI Athletics Association

Julius Farley breaks the tape in winning the Ceres Juices 10K Series opener. PHOTO: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Julius Farley breaks the tape in winning the Ceres Juices 10K Series opener. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

When he entered the A. O. Shirley Grounds after a see saw battle through the streets of Road Town, Julius Farley kept looking back, just incase he had to dig a little deeper. It wasn’t necessary as he had created enough separation between himself and challenger Reuben Stoby, to break the tape in Saturday’s Ceres Juices 10K Series Opener in 39 minutes and 24 seconds-much to his surprise-for his first victory of the season over his rival, who had been dominating the road racing scene.

“I just tried to run my race and ended up squeezing out a victory so I just want to give thanks to the creator for giving me the strength and the endurance that I could have been able to push on through,” said Farley who began challenging Stoby one mile into the 6.2 miles race. “I saw that he made several attempts (to break away) but I just managed to pick it up when I saw him coming, so I was able to make it through.”

Stoby congratulated Farley on running a steady race. “He ran a very good race and was steady in his pace and 39, I think this is the first time anyone has run under 40 on this course-it’s a tough course bearing in mind the heat at well,” said Stoby who finished in 39:38. “I have to give it to him. He came out very strong today. I tried to keep up hoping to hold on to the finish waiting to see what I had in the legs for a kick, but it didn’t happen. I wasn’t feeling so strong so I allowed him to set the pace and he went a little faster than I anticipated, so congratulations to Julius.”

Maria Mays won the women’s division in 45:41. “It’s the first 10K race I’ve done in ages so I’m delighted to be running it again and even more delighted to have won it,” Mays said. “I was really pleased with the Virgin Gorda 10Ks -I won both of those- and the Half Marathon, so I know that I was on reasonable form. But, you just never know.”

Final results
Men:
1. Julius Farley, 39 minutes and 24 seconds.  2. Reuben Stoby, 39:38. 3. Guy Williamson, 43:33.  4. Adrian Dale, 46:46.  5. Zebalon Mclean, 47:18.  6. Dan Mitchell, 47:35.  7. Guyp Dubois, 48:39.  8. Shane Donovan, 49:41.  9. Owen Walker, 51:41. 10. Charles Kerins, 52:33. 11. Aaron Gardner, 52:52.  12. Dennis Versoza, 53:55. 13. Simen Malmin, 54:29. 14. James Drury, 54:32.  15. William Hare, 55:48.  16. Claudius Rhymer, 56:12.  17. Gary Salter,57:28. 18. Sergio Dantas, 58:06. 19. Ruairi Bourke, 59:44. 20. Gabriel Obregon, 1:00:58.  21. Dennis Delacruz, 1:01:20.  22. Laurent Keeble-Buckle, 1:03:05. 23. Luke Plummer, 1:04:22.  24. Howard Moore, 1:07:26. 25. Nik Fox, 1:11:39.  26. Jim Cullimore, 1:16:45.

Women:
1. Maria Mays, 45:41.2.  Melissa Brunner, 47:47.  3. Claudia Ferrari, 52:24.  4. Rosmond  Johnson 52.47.  5.  Melisande Rowe, 53:15. 6. Lauren Julien, 55:34. 7. Saungie Liburd, 56:35.  8. Cayley Smit, 58:27. 9. Philomena Robertson, 59:18. 10. Debbie Bell, 59:57. 11. Karrina Stead, 1:03:17. 12. Vanessa King, 1:03:45. 13. Nedy Ador Dionicio, 1:10:52. 14. Claire Santillan, 1:14:30. 15. Simpa Ganadillo, 1:16:00. 16. Roslyn Gilbert.

Power Walkers: 1.= Sophie Bennett, Peter Reichenstein. 1:43:00. 3.= Linda Li, Sylvie Hune, Guy Hune, 1:43:40. 2-Mile Assault Course, 1. Clair Burke, 20.00.

4-Mile Course: 1. Olwyn Barry, 40:06. 2. Brandon Menton, 40.10.  2. Barry Leon, 1:00:01.

Youth One Mile: Girls: 1. Z’Hara McLean, 12:19.  2.  Ava Ghiorse, 12:50.

Boys: 1. Eli Ghiorse, 7.00. (400m)

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,

Wendol Williams Cup Finals June 19

June 13, 2016 by

By BVI Football Association

Wolues' Simon Cook filled the void left by the early injury to Nick Messum with a solid defensive game against the Sugar Boys. Photo: BVIFA

Wolues’ Simon Cook filled the void left by the early injury to Nick Messum with a solid defensive game against the Sugar Boys. Photo: BVIFA

Two games of contrasting ebb and flow will set up a pulsating rematch in the final of the Wendol Williams Cup next Sunday, June 19th, 2016, when the Islanders play the Sugar Boys in the second major cup competition of the season.

The two top teams in the country have met on many occasions and each time put on an exhilarating performance as each tries to outdo the other tactically and technically. The WWC will be no exception, nor for the feint hearted.

The Panthers will consider themselves unlucky not to have put one over their illustrious semi final opponents, when they fell to a 1-0 defeat to the Islanders. The Islanders were unable to break down the Panthers defense and reached the final on the back of a Francis Primo strike in the 13th minute.

Many chances fell begging in the second half and, although the Islanders could have and probably should have more than doubled their advantage, the Panthers too will feel aggrieved not to have at least got on the score sheet

In the other semi final, the Wolues also held the Sugar Boys at bay for 62 minutes, with goal keep Andre Gaymes responsible for keeping the game goalless with an inspired first half performance and a string of fine saves. Simon Cook too stepped into the void left by the early injury to Nick Messum to marshal the Wolues defense with some resolute tackling.

However, as the game wore on, the Sugar Boys capitalized on the strength-sapping work done by their opponents and Derol Redhead timed his soaring leap to perfection to head home the opener and finally beat Gaymes.

The lead was short lived though when the predatory Allesandro Pallandino latched onto a ball over the top, outpaced two Sugar Boys defenders and fired home the equalizer in the 81st minute.

Suddenly the Boys awoke from a slumber compared to their usual clinical play and broke the back of the Wolues resolve with two lightening quick goals, first from Roger Roberts in the 88th minute and then Akeem Hendrikson in the 88th to seemingly put the game to bed.

The Wolues though had different ideas, hit a post, missed out on a goal mouth scramble and scored again in added time through Marc Savage and almost snatched an equalizer from a Cook free kick before Andres Bailey padded out the score line to 4-2 right at the final whistle.

Next Sunday, June 19th, the Women’s Final takes place at 5.00pm between VG United Ladies and the Ballstars and will be followed by the Islanders against Sugar Boys at 7.00pm with both games on the A.O. Shirley Ground.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: ,
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