Four teams repeat as category champions

By Avenash Ramzan

Four teams displayed dominance by retaining their titles when action concluded in the three-day Amerindian Heritage Month sport activities on Sunday at Everest Cricket Club Ground, Camp Road, Georgetown.

Central Rupununi of Region Nine maintained their hold on the male football title; Georgetown of Region Four retained the female football trophy; Orealla/Siparuta of Region Six successfully defended the male volleyball competition; and Laluni of Region Four extended their dominance in tapeball cricket by lifting the title for the second successive year.

New champions were crowned in female volleyball, which was won by Region One, while Region Two United emerged as new winners of female cricket.

In male football, Central Rupununi retained their title with a 4-1 whipping of Port Kaituma of Region One in the final. Emrick Williams of Central Rupununi was named Most Valuable Player of the final.

In the semi-finals, Central Rupununi beat Georgetown 3-0, while Port Kaituma and North Rupununi played to a stalemate at the end of regulation time. Crowd favourite Port Kaituma emerged victors with a 4-3 scoreline after kicks from the penalty spot.

Since the boys from Central Rupununi have won the title for three consecutive years, they have taken home the lien trophy. The lien trophy was introduced in 2013 and since then the Ballweavers from the south of Guyana have been in the winner’s row.

In female football, the Georgetown lasses retained their title as well with victory over Parima of Region Seven in an exciting game of skill and class. After full time, both teams failed to find the back of the net.

However, at the penalty spot the defending champions showed their superior ability and power with three consecutive successful attempts, while the Parima ladies missed three successive attempts, which made the final two kicks more of academic interest and were not taken.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Region Four beat Annai of North Rupununi, while Parima defeated Central Rupununi. Ruth George of Georgetown was adjudged Most Valuable Player of the final.

Defending male volleyball champions Orella/Siparuta retained their title when they beat off eight other teams on their way to championship glory.

In the final, they were pushed by Central Rupununi, but showed resilience, winning 2-1. Damien Daw of Orella/Siparuta was named Most Valuable Player.

After dominating the preliminaries, Region One made light work of St Cuthbert’s Mission in the female volleyball final to pocket Gy$50,000 and a beautiful trophy. Annalisa Vincente of Region One was this year’s Most Valuable Player.

Laluni continued their dominance in male tapeball cricket at heritage sport with an easy demolition of Region Two United from Mainstay/Whyaka.

The six-time champions won by 29 runs with Sunil Sarjoo making 46 not out and taking home the Man-of-the-Match prize. Laluni had defeated Madhia of Region Eight in the semi-final, while Region Two United overcame a good challenge from Campbelltown, also of Region Eight, at the semi-final stage.

In female cricket, new champions were crowned when Region Two United beat Wiruni of Region 10 by eight wickets in the final. The Wiruni players were restricted to 40 from their six overs and in reply Cassie James, Player-of-the-Match, took the attack to the Wiruni bowlers and belted the soft ball to all parts of the ground in taking her team to 41-2 in the fifth over.

The victory meant that Region Two United walked away with the first place trophy and Gy$50,000.

At the presentation ceremony that followed, all teams that made it to the final of their respective sport were handsomely rewarded with cash and trophies, compliments of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and main sponsor Digicel. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)