Volleyball:-
Anguilla struggled at NORCECA Men’s Second Round Group M qualifiers to the 2014 FIVB World Championship- SURINAME
In their first match against Suriname on Saturday morning, Anguilla lost 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-13) in the opener of the NORCECA Second Round Men’s Group M Tournament of the 2014 FIVB World Volleyball Championship in Poland, Suriname.Overall it was dominant effort by Suriname in their tournament opener as they outscored their opponents in all key aspects of the match, 32-22 on spikes, 7-2 on blocks and 8-2 on service aces, while only committing 11 errors to 28 by its rival.
For Anguilla, which was without middle attacker, Shaphan Smith due to travel delay, captain Ian had a team-high nine points, Sherwin Richardson, seven, Calvin Samuel, five and Darren Webster, four.Speaking after the loss, Anguillan captain, was quick to admit that his team was too slow in starting while their passing game was also terrible.Commenting after the match, Anguilla coach Jason Liburd said the outcome of the match was not what he had hoped for.“We just were not up to scratch in the match. We did not do a good job on our passing game and, to make it worst, our middle attack has not join the team as yet.“But overall, I don’t think if he was here it would have made a big difference to us, because we did not pass well at all.“Offensively when we were able to get in our passes we were able to score, so it tells us that we need to be more consistent in what we do,” stated Liburd.
In their second match on Saturday night, Anguilla was unable to stop Guatemala who won 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-18) for their first win in their second round NORCECA Men’s Group M qualifiers to third round of qualification for the 2014 FIVB World Volleyball Championship in Poland, at the Ismay Van WilgenSporthal.The Guatemalans, although shorter than their opponents proved to be a powerful force above the net with a 37-21 advantage on spikes, 7-4 on blocks and 5-0 on service aces against the Anguillans who did not help their cause by committing 26 errors to their opponents 18.For Anguilla, their best scorer was Calvin Samuel with seven, and captain Ian and Sherwin Richardson with six each.
Speaking after his team’s second loss from as many matches, which ended their chances of getting to the gold medal match, while disappointed said he was still pleased with the team effort.“If you want to compare our first match against Suriname to this one against Guatemala, I would say we played with a lot more effort and energy, even though the scores in the first two sets may not reflect that.“We have one more match to play in the round-robin and while we are out of a chance to qualify for the gold medal match, we are still representing our country and will be coming out to give a much bigger effort,” he added.
In their final of the round robin matches on Sunday morning, Anguilla once again succumbed to a balance attack from Martinique 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-16). Anguilla which was guilty of committing 31 errors to Martinique’s 17 got a team-high 11 points from Sherwin Richardson, while Ricardo Gumbs got five and the duo of captain Ian and Calvin Samuel, four each.
Captain Ian, while admitting that his team was not happy to lose yet again, but quickly dispel any notions that it was because of being inferior to the opposing teams.
“We know we can compete with these teams, the difference for us is that we did not get our passes in while our preparations for tournament likes these will always be tough because of lack of proper facilities.”He explained, “We trained mostly on outdoor facilities, while we compete in indoor tournaments, so the guys will take some time to adjust when we come to tournaments, and we don’t have that time, as was seen.”
However Anguilla was poised for the bronze medal match against Martinique. Martinique registered a second straight 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-16) defeat of Anguilla to take the bronze medal in the NORCECA Second Round Group M Tournament towards the 2014 FIVB World Volleyball Championship in Poland.Sherwin Richardson was the top scorer for Anguilla with ten points, while Calvin Samuel got eight.
Reflecting on his team’s fourth straight loss from as many matches in the two-day tournament, Ian Connor, captain of Anguilla said like all the other matches his team’s main problem was their first pass from the serve.
“Our passing was not consistent enough and at this level if it is not, you will not get the result you want,” said Connor who thinks his team needs to train a lot harder and stay together as a unit if they want to improve and compete at this level frequently.
Jason Liburd, Anguilla coach while not happy that his team failed to win a match said he was pleased to see an improvement in play from the first match to the final.
“But congrats to Martinique they played a much better game than us and deserved to get the bronze.
Basketball:-
The last games for the Lime basketball tournament played this weekend. Shottas defeated the Outlaws by a score of 64-45. Jason Hodge top scored with 25 points and 23 rebounds. The Raiders were scheduled to play against the Nads but the Nads forfeited the game.
The playoffs are scheduled to be played this Friday. The games to be played are Shottaz Vs. New Breed and the Raiders vs. Hoyas. Please visit www.anguillabasketball.com for more information.
Cricket:-
The 20/20 local league came to a conclusion on Sunday. There were two semifinal matches played on Saturday. The school played the masters in a tight match. The school batted first and scored 161 runs from their 20 overs. Kacey Carty top scored with 63 runs. The Masters replied with 163 for 5 from 18.5 overs.Lawrence Carty top scored with 34 runs.
In the second semifinal match, the Beaters defeated the Police convincingly. Police batted first and scored 148 for 3 off 20 overs. The Beaters replied and scored 150 without loss from 12.3 overs. Lyndel Richardson top scored with 109 runs not out.
On Sunday the school and police played first for 3rd place. The school batted first and scored 132 for 9 from 20 overs. Mark Gookaran scored 44 runs to lead the score. The police replied and scored 134. Josiah John top scored with 76 runs
In the final match between the Beaters and the Masters, the Beaters won in a close encounter. The beaters batted first and scored 130 for 9 from 20 overs. Jovani Gumbs top scored with 40 runs. The masters in reply scored 112 for 7 wickets from their 20 overs. Lawrence Carty scored 29 runs.
Notable performances at the end of the tournament
Josiah John finished with the most runs (297)
Nordel Lake finished with the most wickets (7)
LyndelRichadson scored the most runs in an innings (109)
Josiah John most outstanding wicket keeper (297 runs, 1 stumping, 2 catches)
Chaka Hodge- 237 runs, 2 half centuries (99, 99) 6 wickets
Kymony Jackson took 5 wickets in an innings.
Final standing:
1st Beaters
2nd Masters
3rd Police
4th A.L.H.C.S
5th All Stars
Athletics:-
Shara Proctor was victorious at the IAAF Diamond league long jump competition in Oslo Norway on Thursday 13thJune. Shara’s 1stplace jump of 6:89 was 21 cm ahead of the 2ndplace finisher. She now ranks number two in the Diamond league women’s long jump.
Cycling:-
The Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association continues preparation for the 2013 John T Memorial Cycle race schedule for July 7th. A fundraising breakfast and bike-a-thon was held on Monday 17th June. This was followed by a race in the afternoon in the eastern end of the island in honor of Deion Richardson.
The results were as follows:
1st place Benjamin (Donga)Philip
2nd Sherwin (Shortman) Osbourne
3rd Joseph Hercules
4th Devaughn (Baker) Richardson
5th Justin (Crazy Legs) Hodge
The next race will be held on Sunday June 23rd on at 1:30pm starting in front Boca Chica Bar & Restaurant on the Blowing Point Road.
-Contributed
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
