An underrated aspect of sports rivalries is media hype. An example of that locally came through the men’s flag football playoffs.
The dms Hellcats defeated the Calabash Soldiers 13-6 in overtime of the Island Air Flag Football League semi-finals. Put on by the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association, the contest came after Calabash sponsor Sean Moyle and head coach Johann Moxam publicly stated their intentions to knock off the two-time defending champions.
After the victory, the Hellcats posed with an article of the Caymanian Compass with a rewritten headline saying ‘Calabash fear Hellcats.’ A number of dms players were eager to take verbal shots at their arch-rivals, including Damian ‘Beast’ Barboram.
“Calabash talked a lot of trash,” Barboram said. “We took out the trash and sent them to Mount Trashmore where they can watch the finals.”
For the record the Calabash-Hellcats rivalry dates back some six years. Calabash won two titles in 2005 (as the Digicel Spartans) and 2008 (under the name Caybrew Soldiers). The Hellcats meanwhile have rattled off five championships in the last decade.
Aside from the trash talk, two of the biggest happenings on Saturday was the return of Perry Levy and the play of Richard Allen. Previously based in Hong Kong, Levy flew in to Cayman just days before the contest. He states his game was not at 100 per cent.
“It was tough but it was good to be back on the field with the guys,” Levy said. “I dropped a ball that could have been a touchdown. It’s a sign of rust. But it’s good to be back. I’ll make sure I’m ready for the finals this week so I can do my thing.”
Allen, an unheralded role player, made the game-winning interception. A running back last season, Allen has transformed into a hard-tackling linebacker. He states his play was just part of an overall solid defensive effort.
“It feels good,” Allen said. “We had a good defensive game and the team played good. We also had some good rushing by the offence.”
Dms now play in this Saturday’s championship match in West Bay. The only obstacle in the way of a three-peat is the Cox Lumber Colts, a rookie team fresh off gritty victories over the Burger King Panthers and Doghouse Bulldogs.
.jpg)
Related Videos
