ALVOR GREENS ~ LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

The final round of matches for this season and the main interest focussed on the race for second place behind the champion Greens. The Greens themselves went over to PDF to play the Sinners and just emerged victorious by 60-49 and six points to two. Meanwhile the Alvor Harlequins have been enjoying a strong run of performances in the second half of the season and went to Pedras to play the Panthers, still hopeful of second spot. The Panthers however had other ideas and fought out a draw 46-46, taking five points to the Harlequins three. The Gladiators have also had a consistent season and entertained the Valverde Vikings at Alvor. The Gladiators earned a 54-37 win and took six points to the Vikings two.

Back at Valverde, the Vulcans had another close game against the Amendoeira Nuts. The Nuts edging to victory by 50-43 and six points to two. Alvor Amigos have also acquitted themselves well in the league this season and underlined this with a 59-43 win over the somewhat erratic Tavira Tigers, taking all eight points. Earlier in the week, the Tigers had soundly beaten the Vulcans 70-36 and six - two, in a rearranged fixture from week twenty. Finally the Albufeira Cats were a home to close rivals the PDF Crusaders, a match which would decide the runners up, third, and fourth spots this season. Crusaders completed a very successful season by winning 68-38 and taking six points to two.

The runaway league winners were the Greens who had effectively sewn things up with two games to go. They finished on a record 141 points, winning 21 matches and only losing the one to be worthy champions. Cats hung onto the second position they have held most of the season, ending on 111 points. Harlequins just edged out the rest to finish third on 106 points, just one ahead of the Crusaders who had 105. Gladiators also topped the century in fifth, whilst Vikings completed a very successful league debut in sixth, with a creditable 88 points. Pedras were close behind the Vikings with 82 points, another praiseworthy performance in their first year of competition. Tavira Tigers have had an up and down season, ending up with 80 points in eighth (although they do have one rearranged game to play against the Cats which could lift them above Pedras), whilst the Amigos on 63 chalked up ten wins and 76 points. The Nuts recovered well from a shaky start and finished with 65 points, followed by the Sinners on 63. The gallant Vulcans were a credit to the league, although finishing bottom on 29 points.

Alan Clarke - League Director