The Rose Hall Estate Cricket Club of Canje was crowned Champions of the first ever RHTY&SC, M.S/ Hand in Hand Group of Insurance Companies 5/5 Cricket tournament when they easily defeated crowd favourite, Tamarind Root at the Area ‘H’ Ground last Sunday. Led by former Berbice all-rounder and Man of the Tournament Balram Samaroo, the Canje Team played unbeaten throughout the day to emerge as Champions.
The tournament was organised in observance of the 46th Anniversary celebration of Rose Hall Town. The eight cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation are organising a series of activities between September 14 -30 to mark the anniversary. Eleven teams – RHT ‘A’, RHT ‘B’, Bush Lot United, Young Achievers, Young and Restless, Good Bananen, Police, Tamarind Root, Belvedere United, Rose Hall Estate and Courtland placed in-front of a capacity crowd.
The RHTY&SC, M.S also hosted basketball and football tournament while three exciting bouts of boxing was also held as part of a 46th Anniversary Day of Sports.
Batting first in the finals Tamarind Root C.C were restricted to 36 for 7 off their allotted overs as the Rose Hall Estate fielded and bowled superbly. Dilip Regasami top scored with 15 as Balram Samaroo took 3 for 3 off his one over.
In response, Samaroo returned with the bat to blast 20 not out as Rose Hall Estate reached 40 without loss in 3.4 overs to win the finals by a comprehensive 10 wickets. The champions defeated Young and Restless by nine wickets in the semi-finals after restricting their opponents to 38 for 6.
Earlier in the first round Police drew the bye while Tamarind Root defeated Courtland, Good Bananen squeezed past Rose Hall Town ‘B’ during the power over, Bush Lot United upset pre-tournament favourite Rose Hall Town ‘A’ by eight wickets while Belvedere United defeated West Berbice.
In the second round, Young and the Restless thrashed Police after blasting the tournament highest score of 72, Tamarind Root Bush Lot United after successfully defended their total of 35 while Rose Hall Estate defeated Good Bananen.
South Rose Hall Town led by Eon Wiggins and Percy Cort defeated North Rose Hall Town by 36-34 points in a tense Basketball Match sponsored by Anamayah Memorial tournament.
The football tournament was halted by the Management of the RHTY&SC after it was discovered that the two finalists included players not authorised to play for them. Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC and Chief Organiser of the Town Week Anniversary Hilbert Foster stated that the tournament would be replayed in the near future. Foster at the presentation ceremony hailed the Day of Sports as a great success and expressed gratitude to the sponsors – Hand in Hand Insurance, Anamayah Memorial Hospital and Balram Shane General Store for their support. The RHTY&SC, M.S he stated would continue to invest heavily in sports especially cricket as it strongly believes in the promoting of sports as an alternative to a life of drugs and crime.
