SANTIAGO DE LAS VEGAS, Cuba, CMC:
All but one of the three English-speaking Caribbean teams attending the Pan American men's junior hockey championship lost their crossover play-off matches yesterday.
Jamaica won their first match of the competition when they stopped Venezuela 3-0 to qualify for the ninth and 10th place play-off today against Puerto Rico.
Barbados were overpowered when Canada prevailed over them 5-3, and Trinidad & Tobago were setback when hosts Cuba rolled over them 3-0.
The two winners will contest the fifth and sixth place play-off leaving the two English-speaking Caribbean teams to battle for seventh and eight place.
Jamaica avoided last place ahead of the Venezuelans, who failed to win a single match in the competition. They finished the tournament without scoring a goal, but conceded 96.
Jamaica's goals were netted by Jerome Davis in the seventh minute, David East in the 13th, and André Gardiner in the 44th minute.
near miss
Venezuela had the chance of scoring their first goal, through a penalty stroke, but their captain Stefan Kaise shot wide in the 60th minute.
The Pan American men's juniors qualifies the top three for the World Junior Cup to take place from June 26 to July 10 in Rotterdam, Holland.
In the most closely contest match, Canada had to struggle to beat Barbados after they dominated the first half.
The Canadians opened the scoring in the 10th minute from a powerful shot by Scott Tupper, and for minutes later, Philip Wright put his team ahead after deflecting a cross.
A minute later, Canada increased their lead from another deflection by Mark Pearson and Jonathan Roberts netted the fourth in the 27th minute to leave the Barbadians floundering at half-time.
The match, however, heated up in the second period when Barbados tightened up in the midfield and in defence.
They closed the gap in the 44th minute through Aaron Forde from a penalty corner deflection, but three minutes later, Canada retained their advantage through Wright's second goal.
Barbados scored again through Paul Harding in the 52nd minute, and a minute later, the Caribbean team missed an excellent opportunity to score their third, when Richard Hildreth was blocked inside the circle, but the penalty stroke shot by Jamar Small was wide.
Third goal
Barbados did not give up, and led by Forde, netted their third goal in the 62nd minute, but their efforts were not enough.
Next match, T&T failed to be as
accurate and effective in front of their rivals' goal as Cuba.
The Cubans defended the penalty
corners very well, preventing Wayne Legerton's lethal shot.
Alberto Díaz gave the hosts the lead in the 10th minute from a corner deflection, and Iván Makenci added another in the 26th minute to give Cuba a 2-0 half-time lead.
Cuba dominated the second half, while T&T counter-attacked without harming their rivals.
The home side increased the lead in the 40th minute through Ricardo Dieguez, and from then on, they kept control of play until the final whistle.
