Handball: Mohan Shopping Centre-sponsored leagues-Super 8 victorious, MF Storm win by walkover |27 July 2016

 Coach Danny Philoé’s teams – Super 8 and MF Storm – have started the second round of the Mohan Shopping Centre-sponsored men’s and women’s leagues on a bright note but their wins have come in different ways.

League leaders Super 8 consolidated their top position by beating bottom place Quincy Mampo 35-26 to lead the table with 17 points after seven games.

In the women’s league, MF Storm won their match against APC Sisters by walkover, meaning after five games they are now on 15 points.

This was the third game APC Sisters had lost by walkover since the start of the league.

It was Super 8’s Ryan Volcère who opened the score in the match after 3 minutes 30 seconds (3:30) played from his team’s seventh attack in the first half. As both teams played solid defence and the attackers could not find a way at goal, the scoreboard read 6-4 in favour of Super 8 after 11 minutes of play.

Quincy Mampo played some aggressive handball and they kept Super 8 in check at 6-6, 9-9, 12-12 and 13-13, but they still trailed by a goal – 13-14 – at halftime although captain and goalkeeper Ronny Rideau saved Roger Bristol’s penalty on the buzzer.

Sharrif Panagary levelled the score at 14-14 for Quincy Mampo at the start of the second half before Super 8 responded with two quick goals to bring the score in their favour at 16-14 after 34 minutes.

Super 8 then changed their tactics by slowing down the pace of the game in offence and waited for the opportune time to score through captain Louthard Amblavany who had a good game.

Quincy Mampo on the other hand continued with their fast play and it was Super 8 goalkeeper Alistair Amblavany who stopped them from scoring when their attempts did not go wayward.

With Super 8 leading 21-20 Quincy Mampo took the first time out of the match in the 46th minute to rethink tactics as they were not scoring, but  little did their game improve as Super 8 took control to open a five-goal lead at 26-21 after 50 minutes.

With captain Louthard Amblavany finishing as the game’s top scorer with 9 goals, Super 8 won the match 35-26.

After much frustration at first, player/coach Philoé was pleased to have won the match. “It was a good game but we were overconfident. We thought it would be an easy game and we took too long to get in the game. This is why we did not play well in the first half and Quincy Mampo played on the same level like us. It was then that we realised that we have to play collectively and to play well in defence and we did it,” said player/coach Philoé.

Quincy Mampo’s captain Ronny Rideau said he was not too disappointed with his team’s performance as he was very happy with their first half performance.

“After the good first half, we slacked down and let Super 8 ran away with the score. It was difficult to catch them as my team looked tired after giving their all in the first half. Now we do not stand a chance in chasing the title but we will fight for at least second position,” said captain Rideau.

In another men’s encounter, Durantha Brothers beat second-placed AC Brothers 33-28. They are still in third position, level on 14 points with second placed AB Brothers who have a better goal difference. Durantha Brothers’ Kieren Jean was the game’s top scorer with 13 goals. 

P.J.