Naps repeats U-16 crown
A first half goal from Anthony Herbert sealed a spot in the final of the Coca Cola National InterCol competition for St Benedict’s College, yesterday, which played with a player down to defeat Carapichaima East Secondary 1-0.
The National InterCol semifinal match was played at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, immediately following Point Fortin East’s 8-0 semifinal thrashing of St Francois.
Point Fortin East will play either St Augustine or Miracle Ministries in the Girls’ National final next Friday, before St Benedict’s plays the winner of San Juan North’s clash with East Mucurapo Secondary in the Boys’ final. The venue will be named following today’s matches.
St Augustine will face Miracle Ministries today at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, from 1.45 pm, in the second girls’ semifinal before San Juan North and Mucurapo vie for the second spot in the final, from 3.45 pm.
In yesterday’s Boys’ InterCol semifinal, St Benedict’s did well to fend off the challenge from “Caps”, especially after losing Rondel Payne to a red card just after the half-way point in the second period. That red came simultaneously with a call for a penalty kick, which was taken and missed by Larry Brown who hit the crossbar.
The result saw St Benedict’s continue a brilliant InterCol run, which included a 2-1 win over Premier Division and Big-Four champion team, Naparima College in the South Zone final, last week.
However, in the Under-16 final, yesterday, Naparima College went all the way to the title and for the second consecutive time, but required spot kicks to do so after finishing the 80-minute match deadlocked at 1-1 with Trinity East.
“Naps” took the lead in the 23th minute with a goal from Kashief King, but conceded in the 56th minute to see the match into spot kicks. The penalties went in the way of Naparima by a 4-1 margin after Akim Low Hoy, Enrique Changiah, Joel Stephens and Kierron Mason all converted their attempts.