… Amelia’s Ward whip Regal in U17 final
A COLLIE Hercules’ and two other strikes by Travis Waterton and Shawn Daniels were enough for Topp XX to accomplish an emphatic 4-0 win against arch rivals Milerock when the two sides clashed in the final of the Amelia’s Ward/Net Rockers  Senior knockout championship which was played last Sunday  at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Topp XX pocketed $150 000 for winning the tournament while Milerock had to settle for $75 000 for being second best.
Hercules who opened the scoring with a beauty, was later rewarded with the Best Goal of the tournament award after he sent Topp XX into the lead as early as the 6th minute with a rasping shot, after he collected a cross from the right and went around a defender sliding wide on the left before unleashing a right foot shot that zoomed past beating the goalkeeper to the far post.
This 1-0 advantage was increased when Travis Waterton continued his good run with hammer from outside the 18 yards box which went past the flailing hands of the Milerock custodian two minutes before the end of the first half.
Shawn Daniels then made it three for Topp XX when he capitalised on an opening also from outside with a well placed shot that rocked the Milerock net in the 53rd minute and Hercules then sealed the victory with another deft move in the run of play, as he penetrated to score the fourth goal for his side in the 85th minute.
Topp XX custodian Carlos Browne was named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament with Travis Waterton being adjudged the Most Valuable Player and also walking way with the Most Goals award.
The Most Improved Player was also a Topp XX player, Trenton Bangaree and Seawall of West Demerara, the Most Disciplined team.
In the semifinal Waterton got the double and Bangaree the other in a 3-2 win over Seawall of West Demerara while Milerock had enjoyed a 6-0 thrashing of Winners Connection as Oswald Benjamin netted a hat-trick and Ray Bobb-Semple, Deon Grandison and Steve Brewley got the other goals going into the final.
Earlier in the Under-17 tournament Amelia’s Ward United proved too good for Regal United as they shut them out 5-1.
Dwayne Luke, captain of Amelia’s Ward side played exceedingly well to score twice. He opened with a strike in the 20th minute, the other coming in the 88th minute.
In-between Ricardo Estwick netted another double in the 25th and 56th minutes while the other was recorded by Wayne McRae in the 75th minute. The only goal for Regal United was scored by Andrew Fraser. Incidentally that goal came in the 18th minute and was the first of the final.
Long-serving Regal United’s Reginald Campbell was given a special award for his dedication to the sport while Amelia’s Ward United captain Devon Luke was named the Most Valuable Player and also was awarded the Most Goals prize while the Most Disciplined team was Regal United and Collis Brown the Most Improved Player.