Arima Boys RC cruised past Santa Flora Government 4-2 to lift their sixth Atlantic LNG National Primary Schools Football League title yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Carapichaima RC were also in winners row at the same venue yesterday, edging Claxton Bay Anglican 2-1 to retain the Girls’ title in 60 minutes regulation time.
Arima had a double from Jean Paul Rochford, and another brace from Renaldo Francois in another impressive performance, after stopping tournament favourites and defending champions Carenage Boys in the semi-finals, in a penalty shootout.
Rochford opened the scoring with just seven minutes on the clock from distance, scoring over the head of Santa Flora custodian Denzil Smith. Their opponents would hit back 11 minutes later, drawing level through David Jones. But Rochford found the net again in the 26th for a 2-1 half-time lead.
In the 39th, Francois added another goal for Arima, and they finished with a fourth after Levi Garcia (40th) cut the advantage to one goal, a mere consolation item.
Francois and Rochford shared the MVP award for the match, as did Carapichaima’s Zoe Swift in her girls fixture.
Swift and Kherdine Cuffy gave Caps’s junior girls a 2-0 half-time lead over Claxton Bay, although Esther Kirk pulled one back for the South team in the 36th.
Yesterday’s results:
Boys
Arima Boys 4 (John Paul Rochford 7th, 26th, Renaldo Francois 39th, 50th) vs Santa Flora 2 (David Jones 18th, Levi Garcia 40th).
Girls
Carapichaima 2 (Zoe Swift 4th, Kherdine Cuffy 17th) vs Claxton Bay 1 (Esther Kirk 36th).
Arima new boys champ
…Carapichaima retains girls title
Rachael Thomspon-King (T&T Guardian).
Arima Boys RC School was crowned the new Boy’s champion and Carapichaima RC retained the Girls’ title in the Atlantic LNG National Primary Schools Football League.
The finals of both divisions were played yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. Arima emerged a 4–2 winner over Santa Flora Government, while Carapichaima stopped Claxton Bay Anglican, 2–1.
A double from John Paul Rochford and Renaldo Francois earned Arima its sixth overall title. Rochford opened the scoring for the Arima unit with a long range shot that looped over Santa Flora goalkeeper Denzil Smith in the seventh minute.
Santa Flora was able to equalise 11 minutes later with a goal from David Jones. However, through the creative footwork of Rochford, Arima went up 2–1 at the halfway mark.
A Carnival-like atmosphere created by the Arima rhythm section that was well-equipped with horns and drums filled the hot, sunshiny day with energy that flowed onto the field.
At the start of the second half, goalkeeper Smith was made to work even harder and he did a splendid job saving but Arima kept coming and in the 39th minute got its third goal through Francois. Santa Flora managed to pull one back a minute later thanks to Levi Garcia.
For their outstanding performance, both Rochford and Francois shared the boys’ “Most Valuable Player” award.
Zoe Swift received the award for the girls and it was well deserved as she piloted Carapichaima Girls to its second straight crown. Swift lived up to her name, manoeuvring through the Claxton Bay defence with ease, to give her team a 1–0 in the fourth minute from a low shot that rolled past all defenders and the unsuspecting goalkeeper Epiphany Jack.
Some 13 minutes later, Carapichaima got its second item from Kherdine Cuffy to lead 2–0. In the second session, Claxton Bay gave a better effort o n defence and managed to keep Carapichaima from adding to its first half score. Claxton Bay was able to get a consolation goal in the final minute from Esther Kirk.
Results
Boys
Arima Boys 4 (John Paul Rochford 7th, 26th, Renaldo Francois 39th, 50th) vs Santa Flora 2 (David Jones 18th, Levi Garcia 40th).
Girls
Carapichaima 2 (Zoe Swift 4th, Kherdine Cuffy 17th) vs Claxton Bay 1 (Esther Kirk 36th).