SPORTS
Junior Hockey
Happy hockey potential ...
The GHA Junior hockey organisers were delighted with the participation from all five Middle Schools at last weekend’s annual Middle School competition, demonstrating the tremendous potential of local youngsters for this sport.
---------
Girls on Saturday
On Saturday morning four junior girls’ teams played a round robin on the small pitch. After the break Sacred Heart and St Anne’s battled it out for third and fourth place, with St Anne’s victorious. The final was therefore played out between Bishop Fitzgerald and St Joseph’s. Bishop had already beaten St Joseph’s in the round robin and were able to win again, narrowly, by 2 -1.
Most promising player went to Bodene from Sacred Heart. Top goal scorer and best player was unanimously voted for by the teachers and it went to Natalie Caetano, Bishop Fitzgerald.
There were six teams in the senior girls’ tournament so teams were split into two groups. After the round robin stages, the third and fourth playoff was between Loreto Convent and St Anne’s, with the latter coming out on top. The final was contested by Bishop Fitzgerald A and Sacred Heart. Bishop proved too strong for Sacred Heart, coming through to win 2 - 0.
The most promising award went to Lucia Felipes from Loreto Convent. As with the juniors, there was a unanimous decision for the best player who was also the top goal scorer, namely Bishop’s captain Tara Bossano Anes.
Thanks to the Minister for Health and the Environment Dr. John Cortes for making the presentations.
---------
Boys on Sunday
On Sunday it was the turn of the boys and yet again the standard of play impressed.
Both junior and senior tournaments were made up of five teams so a round robin schedule with no play -offs was followed. For the juniors it went down to the match between St Anne’s and Bishop Fitzgerald to decide the winner; third place was tied between Sacred Heart and St Joseph’s. In a nail - biting match St Anne’s got the better of Bishop, but only just, winning 2 - 1. Most promising player went to Christian Zammitt from St Joseph’s. Best player and top goal scorer went to Craig Bossano Anes, Bishop Fitzgerald.
The senior tournament also went down to the wire. St Anne’s needed to beat Bishop Fitzgerald in order to put the two teams plus Loreto Convent onto level points and therefore leaving the results to goal difference. It was a truly gripping fifteen minutes with both teams displaying great skill, courage and determination. Bishop went 2 - 0 up but when St Anne’s got one back it was game on again. Unfortunately for St Anne’s the score remained this way, giving Bishop the shield, Loreto Convent second place and St Anne’s therefore had to settle for third. The most promising award went to Aimad Ben-Youssef from Sacred Heart. As the standard of play was once again so high, it was very difficult nominate the best player. Many boys played their hearts out but the award was eventually shared between Nicholas Pilcher from St Anne’s and Declan Pizarro from Bishop, who was also the top goal scorer.
Thanks to the Minister for Sport and Culture Steven Linares for making the presentation.
The atmosphere down on the pitch was truly fantastic and the GHA would like to thank everyone who was involved in the total success of this, now very popular, annual tournament, especially the teachers who gave up their free time and the umpires.
Hockey: Grammarians start with a draw
Grammarians commenced their campaign in EuroHockey Challenge II in Athens. Yesterday with a hard- fought 1-1 draw against hosts Ethnikos.
Mark Casciaro gave Grammarians the lead just before the interval ( 33rd. min.), but the local side levelled midway through the second – half , also with a field goal.
On Friday , Grammarians met HAHK Mladost and today meet Soerbynagle HK. Pool A then decided, cross overs will take place on Sunday - for final positioning.
---------
Meanwhile, Eagles started their EHF Challenge 1 in Prague against Atasport losing 3-2 after 0-2 at half-time. Today they meet the welsh of Whitchurch HC and on Sunday TJ Pizen Litice, before Monday’s cross-overs.
---------
Both of Gib’s ladies sides - Hawks and Eagles - are in action in Oporto in Challenge III – it is a due reward for their continuous efforts that they should enjoy this European challenge. Today Eagles played Toplice in a three – team Pool , while Hawks faced hosts Porto SC in their first match of three.
Sailing: Fantastic start (and finishes) for Gib.
Gibraltar’s squad had an excellent first day at the 14th. Med Cup which is being played at Ankara, Turkey, when they defeated the hosts 9 – 8, Cyprus 9 – 5 and France 9- 7. The competition continues today and across the weekend.
The only race on this weekend’s RGYC Calendar is the RAFSA on Saturday.
RGYC ‘ King’s Cup’ underway
Last week’s results - the first of the King’s Cup Races:
Jubilee 1
1st - Raymond Payas (Odyssey)
2nd - Hamish Risso (Fencer)
3rd - Charles Lavarello (Flash)
Brinton 1
1st - Charles Lavarello (Flash)
2nd - Hamish Risso (Fencer)
3rd - Monty Spindler (Temptress)
Nine Victories enjoyed two afternoon races in Force 2/3 winds with a cool sea mist. The first race of the Jubilee series was won by Raymond Payas in ‘Odyssey’ (his first win for a couple of years and his second ever in a King’s Cup Race) and Charles Lavarello in ‘Flash’ won the first race of the Brinton series. This leaves both Charlie Lavarello and Hamish Risso on equal points at the start of the season but there is a very long way to go.
The race also saw the welcome return of Nick Cruz in ‘Fairdawn’, after the disaster of last year, when she was almost wrecked during the first race of that season and Andrew Alcantara in Zoe who was also out for most of last season.
This week there is a non-Kings Cup race for the RAFSA Trophy and the battle for the King’s Cup will return next weekend.
Basketball: FIBA Europe General Assembly
Gibraltar will be among the 51 nations attending the General Assembly of FIBA Europe this weekend in Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales.
Our representatives are GABBA President John Gonçalves and Secretary-General Edwin Yeats. FIBA Europe is going through difficult times following the controversial dismissal of Secretary-General Nar Zanolin a year ago, and Gonçalves, as Vice-President of the continental body, will also attend a Board Meeting on Friday, where a motion to dismiss the current Secretary-General, Kamil Novak, and appoint a new one, Goran Radonjic, will be the most significant point in a long agenda. He will also chair the annual meeting of the Small Countries Commission, late on Friday night.
Rowing: Small Boats 2 weekend
Saturday morning will see the full range of small boat races, in the gibtelecom League, over the 2km course in the Harbour finishing at the Cruise Terminal.
On Sunday morning, a similar programme will feature mostly younger rowers over the 750mtrs. course from The Island.
Cricket: European Cricket Day – this Sunday
by R.B.
Whilst GCA have no official events being played on this day in Gibraltar they will use of the Under 11 training on Saturday morning and the following T20 match between two inter - Gib sides due to start at 11am on Saturday to recognise the build- up to the event. A Select side travelling to Cartama in Spain on Sunday which will also be used to promote Gibraltar Cricket’s involvement in the European Cricket Day. The thinking behind having the event across Europe on this particular Sunday is that it marks 50 days until the start of the ICC European Division One in which Gibraltar are due to compete in this summer.
Junior Basketball
GABBA has recently launched a development programme designed to ensure future stability and success amongst its younger players. The Association has formed strong links with a number of clubs from Andalucia who are collaborating in the organization of tournaments and participation activities aimed at boys and girls who form part of the Mini Basketball – Under 18’s classification brackets.
GABBA is encouraged by the initial success the programme is having and the way the Clubs and Associations involved have seized the opportunity to build on the development and motivation of young players within the sport.
Our most recent invitation took place on Sunday 5th May, where a friendly tournament was organized by hosts Club Baloncesto Marbella. GABBA’s participating teams (Mini basketball boys, Pasarell boys, Pasarell girls, Under 16 Boys and Under 16 girls) as well as their respective supporters enjoyed a full day of scheduled matches which culminated in an evening BBQ.
GABBA would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Julian Landaluce (Director C.B. Marbella) and C.B. Marbella for their invitation and for their support in helping us to continue to actively contribute to the physical and personal development of the younger players on the local scene.
FOOTBALL
Lincoln ease into semis
A ‘Premier’ Lincoln OSG side, forced to make several changes to regular personnel, were still far too good for GFA 2nd. Div. Sporting, beating them 4-0 in Monday’s Quarter Final of the Rock Cup.
They thus join Manchester Utd., who knocked out Gib Pheonix by a similar score and St. Joseph’s, w/o against Pegasus from Saturday’s quarters to be joined by Glacis Utd., who just beat the GFA U15s, 2-1 on Tuesday.
So four of the ‘Big 6’ will contest the semis, guaranteeing big crowds of the Rock’s football loving public back to the Stadium on the 25th.- ‘post- Congress’
Lincoln FC 4 - Sporting 0
Lincoln had four newcomers, while Brian Perez is making a comeback from surgery and ‘Pitu’ Anes is forcing his way back into the squad. But the ‘Lincoln-way’ had far too much for a Sporting side with plenty of effort but little skill to trouble the ‘Champs.’ They only managed a few attacks in the match but learnt a lot about defending. Lincoln had their usual lacklustre opening half-hour - plenty of promising build-up and a few long range shots, but no cutting edge. Then, on the half hour, a mass of Sporting defenders were unable to stop George Cabrera ‘bundling ‘ it in, 1-0, (see photo). If that goal was chancey the next was classy.
Dwayne Robba’s accurate pass found Lee Casciaro who took on the defence to the byeline and crossed perfectly for Cabrera to make it 2-0.
Just a few minutes into the second half we, all six of us spectators, enjoyed a ‘moment of magic’. A ball found Lee Casciaro beating the off-side at half-way , a quick glance and he was pacing away from defenders straight for goal before sliding the ball past the advancing keeper for 3-0.
The fourth goal was ‘ even better’.
A Lincoln ‘one - touch’ movement (just like their warm-ups) saw the ball speeding through defenders up to Robert Guilling , back to his best, who controlled, dazzled and slipped the ball to Cabrera to complete his hat trick - and a four - nil victory. JES
Glacis Utd 2 - Gib U15 1
Glacis FC narrowly scraped into the Semi Finals of the Rock Cup after beating the GFA youngsters 2-1 in a well fought contest at the Victoria Stadium.
Stephen Head made few changes to the side that beat Leo Parilla for the Quarter Final match against ‘Premier outfit Glacis FC, with Jayce Consigliero replaced by Andrew Hernandez.
Five minutes into the match and Gib. U15 nearly found themselves in the lead – George Wink used his pace down the right wing and later finding Jules Origo, but his shot hit the post and rebounded out for a goal kick. The power of Glacis was to thank after Al Green out - jumped everyone to header his side into a 1-0 lead. Stephen and David Ochello’s boys showed good tactical awareness as they kept their shape and discipline to continue giving the Premier side a hard time.
Much to the disbelief of supporters and players Gib were 2-0 down after Joseph Chipol lobbed the keeper from outside the box.
Re- energized from the break, the youngster started the better showing good determination and quality football – as a result of that they were back in the game thanks to a George Wink deflected shot – 2-1.
Less than a minutes later, players and coaches were getting ready to celebrate a second goal, but Julian Fortuna got low down well to save Consigliero’s shot.
From then onwards it was a sea of red shirts on the attack and throughout showed tremendous courage not give up – GFA U15 can be proud of the progress they have made over a short period of time. L.F.
FOOTBALL: Uefa/GFA: Uefa Week starts here!
GFA ‘s National Team Manager Allen Bula expresses the feelings of many when he calls for the whole Gibraltar community to ‘Unite’ in the cause of Team 54. “Today is exactly one week from our ‘Big Day’ - Friday 24th May when the 53 Nations of Uefa vote at their London Congress.
“Let’s all unite throughout the day in showing the world what being members of Uefa means to us. Dress in GFA shirts or red and white, shirts with team 54, anything that can show your support. “It would be great if work places and school could support this. Send your pictures to face book page ‘team 54’ showing your support.”
Meanwhile, GFA President Gareth Latin says: “We will be campaigning right up to the 24th. We are quietly confident that our message is getting through – ‘Gibraltar is ready!’. We exist and we are football people!”
The GFA calls for next Friday to be The ‘Red & White’ Day – while the GFA Council take their place in the Congress Hall, between Germany and Greece, awaiting the decision of the 53.
Junior Football: COSMOPOLITAN KIDS JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Under 7
Group B
Saturday 14.30 Man Utd Red v Lions FC Music Corner
14.30 College Europa v Lions FC FC Green Straitforward.com
Group A
9.30 Man Utd White v Lincoln Flying Angel
9.30 Lincoln Child Line v College Europa FC Black
Under 9
Group B
Saturday 15.30 Glacis Utd v St Joseph’s FC Chestertons
10.30 Lions FC L Sacarello v Lions FC Roc A Graphics
Group A
11.30 College Europa White v St Joseph’s FC AI Couriers
12.30 Man Utd White v Lincoln CK Transport
13.30 College Europa Black v Lincoln Tyre Spot
Sunday 15.45 Lincoln Tyre Spot v St Joseph’s FC AI Couriers
Under 11 Group A
Sunday 9.30 College Europa v Lincoln FC Black Gib Flora
10.45 Lions FC MH Blands v Lincoln Westmed
12.00 College Europa v Lions FC FC white Jyske Bank
Group B
13.15 Glacis Utd B v Laguna FC
14.30 Glacis Utd A v College Europa FC Green
Under 13
Tonight 17.00 College Europa FC v Man Utd
Saturday 10.00 Lincoln Gib Easy v Lions FC Baker Tilly
11.20 City Line FC v Lincoln Latinos
Under 15
Tonight 18.15 Lincoln Popay v College Europa FC
Sunday 10.00 Lincoln Corks Wine Bar v Man Utd
11.30 Lions FC Portman v Lions FC R & J