Handball: Mohan women’s and men’s leagues |14 June 2016

MF Storm in control, men’s league wide open

MF Storm sit atop the Mohan-sponsored women’s league after easily defeating closest rivals Au Cap Sisters at the weekend, while Super 8 have taken over from defending champions AC Brothers in the men’s championship thanks to a 27-21 win over Durantha Brothers.

Playing in the last game of the day – Saturday – Super 8 started strongly against Durantha Brothers as they played some tough defence, forcing their opponents to lose the ball thus leaving them with a lot of possession  on the counter to bring the score to 11-4 after 20 minutes of play.

Durantha Brothers reorganised their defence in the last 10 minutes of this first half and stopped their opponents from scoring and from three consecutive goals they reduced the score to 11-7 at the end of the first half.

Durantha Brothers were better organised in defence and attack in the second half as they applied more pressure on Super 8 resulting in an avalanche of goals to level the score at 16-16, thus forcing coach Danny Philoé to call for a time-out.

After taking the lead at 17-16, Durantha Brothers released their foot on the accelerator allowing Super 8 to take control of the match and with some fast counter-attacks the latter breached the Durantha defence to score at will.

At the referee’s whistle, Super 8 joyfully celebrated their 27-21 victory. Super 8’s Loutherd Amblavany was the game’s top scorer with 9 goals.

Super 8 coach Danny Philoé said “it was a very tough game”.

“Durantha also wanted that win to improve their position and this is why they played like that. But the essential has been done, we got our three points and with three games left I think we will hold on to win the league title,” added coach Philoé.

Earlier Quincy Mampo, who only had seven players for almost 40 minutes of the match, created the upset of the day by beating defending champions AC Brothers 34-27.

Mampo’s Ryan Azemia and Sharif Panagary were the top scorers with 9 goals apiece.

League leaders Super 8 (14 points) have one win and two losses in the first round and are unbeaten in the second.

Second-placed AC Brothers (13 points) were unbeaten in the first round, but have a draw and two losses in the second. Third-placed Quincy Mampo (9 points) had one win and two losses in the first round, but they have a win and a loss in the second round with a game in hand. Both Quincy Mampo and Durantha Brothers have a game in hand on their opponents.

Durantha Brothers (8 points) had a win and two losses in the first round, but they have a draw and a loss in the second.

The women’s match was a one-sided affair as MF Storm took control from the very beginning and went on to win the first half 12-5. There were more goals in the second half as MF Storm’s attackers Claire Marguerite and Natalie Samynadin continued to penetrate the Au Cap Sisters’ defence and they finished with seven goals apiece. MF Storm won the match 29-17 to bring their points tally to 12.

Au Cap Sisters have 8 after one win and a loss in both the first and second rounds. APC Sisters are at the bottom on 4 points after losing all their matches.

MF Storm coach Danny Philoé was happy with the win describing it as “an easy victory for us”.

“We are unbeaten up to now and we hope to win all of our matches in the third round and win the title.”

There are only four men’s teams and three women’s teams in the Mohan leagues this year. 

P. J.