Seychelles Handball Federation (SHF) Cup finals-Royal Queens, Young Eagles champions |04 December 2012

If the young and inexperienced Teenz team were no match for Royal Queens in a 12-51 loss, the country’s men’s under-21 side Young Eagles overpowered Durantha Brothers 32-31 in a highly-contested and interesting encounter.

Coach Freddy Annette rotated his players and gave them much playing time against Teenz. After going for the breather with a 15-point lead – 21-6 – Royal Queens scored 30 goals in the second period and held Teens to only six for a 51-12 victory.

Rea Estico and captain Thelma Sauzier scored 11 goals apiece for Royal Queens who have only recently taken part in the Indian Ocean Club Championship in Madagascar. Christabelle Albert added nine goals to her team’s tally.

As for Teenz, they were led in scoring by Vania César with five goals.
The men’s final was a cat-and-mouse affair as experienced Durantha Brothers set the early pace and led 8-5, 11-6 and 13-7 before Young Eagles with players like Leeroy Laure, Luthard Amblavany, Hendrick Siméon, Neil Esparon, Liam Melanie and Reynold Nicette gradually got their act together to reduce the deficit to one goal – 14-13 – at half-time.

Laure gave Young Eagles the lead for the first time in the game at 17-16 with 24 minutes left on the clock and soon their advantage grew to three goals – 23-19 – but Durantha Brothers, who had lost Michel Dugasse in the 42nd minute with a red card after being hit with three two-minute penalties, found a way back to equalise at 22-22 and even take the lead at 23-22.

As coach Alix Dufresne barked instructions from the sidelines, Young Eagles regained their composure to lead 28-27 and run out 32-31 winners.

“It wasn’t an easy win, but we worked hard for it after they beat us by the same margin the last time we met in the league,” coach Dufresne told Sports Nation.

Up-and-coming Siméon, who sustained a cut under his chin as he played his heart out in the final, top-scored for Young Eagles with nine goals and he was helped in offence by Laure and Amblavany with seven and five goals respectively.

Jason Jean finished with nine goals for Durantha Brothers who also got eight from Curtis Esther.

G. G.