Seychelles Handball Federation Cup finals
Rybar achieve fourth consecutive double .
Durantha Brothers return as champions IT wasn’t one of the best matches local handball fans have seen at the Palais des Sports, but Rybar pulled the strings to win 34-17 to achieve a fourth consecutive league and cup double, while Durantha Brothers returned as men’s champions.
APC Sisters had relatively no chance of beating Rybar and a win for coach Tony Hortère’s team would have been a real shocker.
Playing well below their usual high level, Rybar were still in command, winning the first half 18-4.
Although APC Sisters put up a fight in the second period, scoring 13 goals, Rybar still won it 16-13 and the match 34-17 to claim the Seychelles Handball Federation (SHF) Cup to complete a fourth successive league and cup double after past wins in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
They also become the first team to achieve such a feat after matching Anse Boileau’s old record of three wins which came in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Former swimmer Claire Marguerite finished with a game-high nine goals to lead Rybar in scoring, while Natasha Léon got seven goals for APC Sisters.
The men’s encounter between Durantha Brothers and AC Brothers wasn’t an exciting one either, especially with AC Brothers losing the plot midway through the second period.
After going for the breather with a two-goal – 17-15 – lead, Durantha Brothers used a three-minute spell in the second half to distance themselves from AC Brothers and on a Roddy Albert goal their lead had ballooned to seven points – 27-20.
Former champions AC Brothers had a chance to come back when Durantha Brothers had only four players on the court as another three were on the bench with two-minute penalties, but they failed to make the most of their numerical advantage as an inspired goalkeeper Alex Monthy made some spectacular saves to keep his team’s lead intact.
The two teams then exchanged goals, with AC Brothers scoring seven and Durantha Brothers getting eight to wrap up the win at 35-27.
Durantha Brothers got balanced scoring with Dave Bonnelame getting eight goals, while Michel Dugasse and Jason Fred got six apiece.
Player of the year Steven André top-scored in the match with 12 goals and Dereck Volcy added nine, but they were not enough to earn their team a win.
AC Brothers’ last SHF Cup win came in 2007 when they earned a 37-31 victory against Durantha Brothers to keep the title.
G. G.