Comet, Clarke Road in decider

The race for the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control Carib National Cricket League Division One crown enters the final round with current leader FCB Clarke Road United hosting second place Alescon Comet at their Wilson Road recreation ground, Penal today from 10 am. Clarke, led by former West Indies youth player Mahadeo Bodoe, are bracketed on 110 points while Comet, led by former Test player Suruj Ragoonath finished with 102 after six completed rounds last weekend.

Co-incidentally Bodoe was Ragoonath’s captain when TT copped the Nortel West Indies Youth Cricket Tournament title in 1986 series at home. Both have been in tremendous form but they are on the opposite sides today as they seek glory for their respective clubs in the Board’s premier local two-innings competition. Much attention will be focused in this marquee contest in which first innings lead and the extra bonus batting and bowling points can do the trick. And Clarke Road coach Roland Sampath disclosed that his boys are highly motivated and are confident of pulling off the season’s double.

He revealed that they will be missing the services of TT’s youth player Kenton Thompson and Guyana’s former youth star Damodar Daesrath who left during the week for Grenada where they will attend the Shell Cricket Academy at the St George’s University for the next three months. “Although we will be missing both Kenton and Daesrath, we have the players with the talent and fighting spirit to get the job done,” Sampath said. Comet will also be without Guyana’s and former West Indies leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo who is expected to lead a Guyana team to Toronto. He left with the team yesterday. Ragoonath is also confident that they can pull off the victory.

“We know what we have to do to win outright and once we stick to the plan, we should be the winner,” he said. On the other hand, defending champion Ceramic MerryBoys, on 99 points, must win outright against Queen’s Park and must be hoping that the Clarke Road/Comet match end in a draw with Comet taking first innings points for them to retain the coveted title. Clico Preysal tackles Tile It Central Sports at the Inshan Ali Park while PowerGen Sports will be at home to demotion-bound Police at their Syne Village Ground, Penal.

Transbrokerage Couva Sports, having already stashed away the Division Two title, will be seeking to end the season on a winning note when they come up against Moosai Sports in their final round encounter Caroni Wanderers will entertain Cosmos Sports; S&J Endeavour Sports take on Mayo Sports while Low Cost Munroe Road square off with British American Aranguez.

Points Standings.
NCL Division One: FCB Clarke United- 110 points; Alescon Comets- 102; Ceramic MeryBoys 99; Clico Preysal 96; PowerGen Sports-90; Tile It Central Sports- 81; Queen’s Park CC- 69 and Police 37.
NCL Division Two: TransBrokerage Couva Sports- 129; Low Cost Munroe Road- 84; Caroni Wanderers-80; Moosai Sports-79; Mayo Sports-76; British American Aranguez- 74; Cosmos Sports- 68, S&J Endeavour Sports-66.