Cayman Prep wins fourth straight opening rally
Cayman Prep (blue) wins another opening rally title
(CNS Local Life): Cayman Prep won an unprecedented fourth consecutive opening rally title with a 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Cayman International School (CIS) in the finals of the 2016/2017 CUC Primary Football League (PFL) competition held Saturday, 1 October at the Annex Field. Prep’s defenders and goalkeeper were the heroes in the final for the four-time rally champions but striker Tom Byrne received the Ronnie Roach Most Valuable Player award for netting his school’s winning penalty.
The final itself was a largely defensive affair, according to a PFL press release, with both schools defending resolutely, not giving their opponents any ground or opportunities in the box. To keep a team without shots on goals is virtually impossible even in 20-minute games and both sets of strikers learned midway through the game that shooting from long range just might be the answer. However, both goalkeepers were in fine form and pulled off some key saves throughout the game
With both teams unable to find the back of the net during regulation time, the game went into two five-minute extra time periods. Once again, neither school could find the one goal that would surely clinch the title and so the game would be decided on penalties.
After two of the three designated penalties, both schools were even with each missing one shot. The final penalty-taker for Cayman Prep was Byrne and he made sure of his effort. Unfortunately for CIS, their third and final penalty was saved by Prep’s goalkeeper, Jonathan Scott, who rushed to celebrate with his teammates.
Prospect Primary claimed third place after defeating NorthEast Schools 1-0 thanks to a solitary strike from Joshua Campbell.
NorthEast Schools (yellow) finish fourth
Cayman Prep’s road to the final was impressive scoring five goals and not conceding any in capturing first place in Zone B with 2-0 victories over Savannah Primary and NorthEast Schools, and a 1-0 win over Triple C School.
Cayman International School’s journey was equally impressive as they clinched Zone A with a 2-0 victory over George Town Primary 11, a 1-0 win over St Ignatius Prep and an 8-0 route of George Town Primary 9.
In Zone A, St Ignatius Prep joined CIS in the quarterfinals after finishing second in the group with 5-0 win over George Town Primary 9 and a 1-0 victory over George Town Primary 11, the latter team securing one of the third place finishes and a place in the quarters after defeating George Town Primary 9 3-0.
In Zone B, NorthEast Schools advanced to the quarterfinals with Cayman Prep following their 2-0 victory over Triple C and 1-0 win over Savannah Primary. Triple C grabbed third place in the group and the final quarterfinal spot with a 1-0 victory over the boys from Savannah Primary.
In Zone C, Prospect Primary clinched the group with a 3-2 penalty shootout win over Red Bay Primary and a last-minute 3-2 victory over Sir John A. Cumber Primary, which secured the second spot and a place in the quarterfinals after defeating Red Bay Primary 1-0.
In the quarterfinals, CIS defeated Sir John A. Cumber Primary 4-0 thanks to three goals from Liam Heffernan and a fourth from Jackson MacKay. Prospect Primary beat George Town Primary 11 2-1 with Campbell and Johan Lindo grabbing the goals for Prospect, and Emile Powell scoring a consolation goal for the boys from the capitol.
In the third quarterfinal, Cayman Prep squeezed past St Ignatius Prep 2-1 with Byrne opening the scoring and last year’s opening rally MVP Malcolm Hill scoring a late winner after young Kyan Okoil had equalised for St Ignatius Prep. The last quarterfinal saw NorthEast Schools defeat Triple C 1-0 thanks to a strike from Derek Russell.
In the semifinals, Cayman Prep defeated Prospect Primary 3-0 on goals from Jakub Neuerill, Byrne and Xavier Marshall, and CIS overcame NorthEast Schools 1-0 with MacKay blasting in a penalty during regulation time.
The 2016/2017 PFL and Girls’ PFL regular seasons begin Saturday, 8 October at primary schools and fields across the Island.
Category: Football, Primary School
