Voice of the Jewish Sport: Liron’s the man for the Raiders

COMETH the hour, cometh the man, and in Sunday’s Premier Division title decider, Liron Mannie certainly stepped up. Scoring a match-winning hat-trick in North London Raiders’ 4-2 win over Redbridge, his team now need just five points from four games to retain their title. Few would argue that they don’t deserve to become champions again, given that they’ve been top of the table for the majority of the season. Rob Richman and Jonathan Green have made additions to last season’s title-winning side and produced an outfit unbeaten in the league, winning 11 of their 12 games, set to contest the final of the Cyril Anekstein and are through to the semi-finals of the Peter Morrison Trophy. A treble is in the offering. You wouldn’t back against it.

NOMINATION for the most bizarre match abandonment of the season came in Real Hendon’s game against Boca Jewniors on Sunday. With the former 5-0 up and with just ten minutes remaining, the referee called time up – due to a hail storm. Hendon’s player-manager Chaim Gothold was just as bewildered with the decision, saying: “Not sure why the match was abandoned as I wasn’t consulted, but I think common sense will prevail.” You’d like to think so…

IT’S NOT often I can put this in print, but it has actually been a good week for Israeli sport. Forget the football team losing in Croatia – there was even cause for optimism in their 2-0 loss – their athletes have been winning gold medals in various events across Europe, their main tennis player is threatening to break into the top-50 rankings – Dudi Sela won his 20th career title at the weekend to climb to the early 60’s – and with the Olympics fast approaching, maybe, just maybe a 15th Games medal beckons in Rio this summer.