Football: Sunkiss'd division two and three round-up-Tame The Lions if you can ... |30 July 2004

On Monday, leaders The Lions, already boasting the lion's share of wins and points in the third division, extended their lead to 10 points over their closest challengers St Roch following a 3-1 win.

Against St Roch, striker Michel Pierre took sole control of the top scorer's standings with 12 goals after netting a hat-trick for the Lions, whose aim is to finish at the top of the third division table at the end of the present season and win promotion to the second next year.

Lionised by their fans, who do not miss to make the trip to Stad Popiler to watch them in action, The Lions, managed by Charles Decommarmond, look on course to achieve their aim of playing second division football in 2005, four years after their formation.

In 13 matches, only St Francis have been able to tame The Lions and the Baie Lazare-based team will have to pray to their patron St François d'Assise to earn a second win.

The Lions' coach Jean-Marc Benstrong has said that St Francis won't beat them again.

"Our next game is against St John Bosco (on August 9) and after that we will meet St Francis (on August 23). We have to put one over them to come closer to lifting the title," said 38-year-old coach Benstrong, a former Grand Anse Mahe, Red Star and Seychelles centre-back.

The title is, to be safe, 11 points away from The Lions' claws because their opponents, who have put themselves in the lion's mouth, aren't likely to catch them.

With 36 points already garnered, The Lions, who have five matches left, will boast 47 points if they can earn 11 of the possible 15 points.

Runners-up St Roch can only finish with 41 points in the event of winning their remaining five matches. As for third-placed St Francis, who have two matches in hand on the top two and play Easterners on Wednesday August 4, they will finish the season on 46 points if they win all their seven matches.

Only teams with lion-hearted players can harbour the hope of stopping The Lions, whose confidence on the ball grows with every match, from winning the title.

Fourth position in the standings is being occupied by English River who beat seventh-placed Anse Kerlan 4-2 on Wednesday.

St John Bosco are fifth with 14 points, Agrics sixth with 13 points, St Pierre eighth with 10 points, Easterners ninth with eight points and Western Tigers 10th with four points.

Foresters lead second division

In the second division, the race for the title is wide open, with four teams on more than 20 points.

At the top are Foresters with 28 points from 13 matches. Coached by former Bel Air, St Michel and Seychelles attacking midfielder Ralph 'Tiapout' Jean-Louis, Foresters,  collected a 2-1 win over Anse Etoile on Tuesday to bring their record to eight wins, four draws and a defeat.

With former Seychelles defender José Labiche, who scored with a nice volley in the win against Anse Etoile, in their ranks, Foresters boast the best line of attack with 37 goals and have the third best defence after leaking 13 goals.

Hot on their heels are unbeaten Survivors on 26 points, but the Praslin-based team have three matches in hand.

Another Praslin team, Baie Ste Anne 96ers, are third with 22 points after playing nine times and the fourth team with more than 20 points is fourth-placed Athletico Juniors on 21 points.

It is to note that Arsu and Rovers are the only teams who have not yet tasted victory and they both have one point to their accounts.

G. G.