The 36-year-old rivalry between pioneer teams Progressive and Sandy Crest Medical Deacons went close to physical when the Goddard Enterprises Limited Division 1 Volleyball League continued at the Wildey Gym on Wednesday night.
Progressive came from two sets down to upset the newly crowned knockout champions in a game marred by double expulsions following an ugly scene of aggression.
Progressive took the match 22-25, 25-13, 15-25, 26-24, 15-13.
Someone should have told Progressive that they were playing without veteran hit man Fabian Cox, who had indicated that he was finished after the last game loss to Cawmere.
Someone should also have told Progressive that Deacons’ young guns had not lost for the season and were looking like sure double crown candidates.
However, former Barbados player Renier Grace with his own young guns like Akeem Payne, Jerome Stuart, Jason Hendy and setter Kemar Hinds played a superior game, which deflated the Deacons hype.
Deacons were leading 20-19 in the fourth set when the trash talk between Payne and his Barbados teammate Daran Gill escalated to the point where Grace had to physically drag Payne back from Deacons’ court after he went after Gill.
Payne and Gill were expelled for the set by official Dale Addison, who placed the antagonists in “neutral corners” to calm down as the set continued. However, Gill left his penalty corner to take off his shirt with Deacons leading 23-21. That score became 23-22, after Gill and Deacons were penalized.
Progressive took that controversial fourth set and Grace and Hendy then revelled in court time in Cox’s absence to pilot Progressive to an impressive win in the decider.
Earlier, defending champions Chargers encountered no such fireworks as they dismissed the Juniors 25-13, 25-19, 25-16.
The same could not be said for defending women champions Freekz Customz Chargers women, who might have waved goodbye to their second cup as they lost for the second time in succession.
In a replay of the knockout final, Chargers lost, this time in straight sets, to knockout queens Brydens Rockets 16-25, 24-26, 23-25.
Rockets’ hopes of doing the double could be affected by yesterday’s departure to Spain of six-footer Anicia Wood for a professional stint which will run until May 2013.
Shari Matthews is also tipped to head out on a similar engagement in Europe as well.
One of the contenders to take the women’s crown Sentry Insurance Brokers Deacons also handed a straight sets whipping to Safe Carlton 25-13, 25-20, 25-19.
Deacons will clash with the Rockets on Sunday.
