Holder hat-trick sinks Tabaquite

The win for “Caps” was decided in the first match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, which was followed by a similarly one-sided affair with Chaguanas North whipping Couva West 5–1. The victory also secured Chaguanas action in next Tuesday’s title decider, to be staged at the same venue.
 
“Caps”, which narrowly took the Central Zone league title for the ninth consecutive season, was relentless with top forward Shaquille Holder scoring a hat-trick. Holder who was on National U-20 duty, while his school lifted its first ever Big-Five title, returned to initiate the scoring in the 12th minute. His strike was doubled two minutes later by Marvin Martin.
 
Two more goals came in the first half, compliments of a brace from a similarly in-form Leon Whyle (30th, 39th). Twenty minutes into the second half Keon Nicholls made it 5–0, before Holder put the match to rest with a further two items in the final ten minutes.
 
In the second match, Chaguanas North Secondary, which was edged out for a second place league finish by “Caps” were also ignited by a hat-trick from Jaron Humphrey. David Maloney scored from the penalty spot in the 20th minute for Chaguanas, followed by an effort in the final seconds of the first period through Humphrey.
 
Two minutes into the restart Jaffet Williams pulled one back, but Chaguanas was spurred on with quick-fire goals from Humphrey who completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark. The scoring was finalised in the 73rd minute via a Justin Marshall effort.
 
Today, action will resume in the East and South Zones where a double-header will be staged at the respective stadia.
 
The Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, will play host to the East Zone semifinals, beginning at 2 pm with a clash between St Augustine Secondary and El Dorado West Secondary. St Augustine advanced to the last four phase with an easy 4–0 victory over relegated Toco eight days ago, while El Dorado West, overcame San Juan North on penalties after a 3–3 thriller. St Augustine won the league double over today’s opposition by a combined 8–0 scoreline.
 
The second match between East Zone league champions Arima North and Trinity East Secondary is expected to be a more constricted affair, with not much separating the two teams this season. Arima was held 2–2 in the first leg, before edging the fifth-placed finishers 1–0 in the second. Arima is the East Zone InterCol title holder. The school dropped San Juan North 1–0 in the final last year.
 
In the South Zone, defending InterCol and recently crowned league champion Presentation College of San Fernando will come up against St Benedict’s College, in the second match at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 5 pm. Coming off a disappointing loss to eventual champion Carapichaima North Secondary in the Big-Five competition, the Shawn Cooper-coached school will be eager to bounce back with a win for a spot in Wednesday’s zonal final.
 
St Benedict’s has not had the best of luck against “Pres” this season. En route to a league victory which comprised a win in each of its 12 matches, Presentation got the better of St Benedict’s with two 3–1 wins. In the first South Zone match, league runner up Shiva Boys will take on second-from-bottom Pleasantville, at 3 pm.
 
Shiva, too, won both legs 3–1 and 1–0 in league action.
 
And, while Shiva starts the match as favourites, Pleasantville will be aiming for another upset, a week after its penalty kick victory over Naparima. The match ended 2–2 after regulation time. Shiva Boys, as expected, whipped Moruga 5–0 in the other quarterfinal match last week.
 
Today’s InterCol fixtures
 
East Zone semifinals

St Augustine vs El Dorado West, Larry Gomes Stadium, 2 pm
Arima North vs Trinity East, Larry Gomes Stadium, 4 pm
 
South Zone semifinals

Shiva Boys vs Pleasantville, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 3 pm
St Benedict’s vs Presentation, Manny Ramjohn Stadium, 5 pm