In one of the most lop-sided finals, Guyana’s Everest Hikers hammered Malvern Hockey Club of Trinidad and Tobago 11-2 to win the men’s final, while Georgetown Cricket Club made it a Guyanese double when they dethroned Raiders in the ladies’ final of the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Fatima retained their title in the veterans’ category with a 4-1 win over compatriots Malvern.
Hikers completely dominated a depleted Malvern side and their win was so convincing that eight of their 11 players scored in the match.
Led by a double from Jerazeno Bell, the men’s division Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the tournament’s leading goal scorer with 22 goals, Hikers made no mistake in capturing their second DMW title after they had beaten Malvern in the 2005 final.
Marc King sent his team off the mark in the 2nd minute of play and three minutes later captain Devin Munroe and then Bell scored in the 9th minute following well-executed buildups.
The goal rush continued with King scoring again in the 11th minute.
Shane Samuels got into the act with double strikes just after the resumption of play (21st and 27th) before Alex Gouveia in the 28th, Robert France 32nd, Robert Fernandes 33rd, Quillon Williams in the 35th minute before Bell rounded off victory with a strike on the stroke of the final whistle.
Malvern netted a goal in each half with Joshua France in the 16th minute and Darryl Hume in the 24th.
GCC ladies lifted their game a notch to outwit and outclass their more experienced counterparts 6-3 after 3-1 at half time.
The ladies’ MVP Tiffany Solomon sent the Bourda side into the lead in the second minute of play from a penalty corner and six minute later Gabriella Xavier found the back of the net from a field goal but Karen Lovelace pulled one back in the 9th minute for Raiders.
Sonia Jardine struck twice in the 16th and 24th minutes before Karensa Fernandes and Trisha Woodroffe completed the victory for GCC.
Nicole Aming scored a double in the second half but it was not enough for the Trinidadians.
The winners of men and women’s finals each received a first prize of $1000 US, trophies and medals.
It was a tough day for Malvern as their veterans’ team went down to Fatima 4-1 with Dean Nieves being the destroyer scoring a helmet trick of goals including three in the first half.
On the resumption, the onslaught continued with Samuels scoring his second goal in the 27th minute, Alex Gouveia netted one minute later.
