The top men’s teams defending champions Georgetown Cricket Club ‘A’, Everest ‘A’and Old Fort ‘A’ all look set to advance to this evening’s semi-finals with the possibility of two squaring off in the final of the GT&T sponsored National Indoor Hockey championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The three teams along with GCC Tigers and Hikers on the distaff side, all remain unbeaten having amassed large goal tallies in their run for championship honours after two nights of competition.
The semi-finals in the men’s competition and the men’s and women’s finals respectively will be played this evening.
Bully off is at 16:00 h.
Friday evening’s action got off to a hot start with a clash between the enthusiastic GCC ‘B’ and the pugnacious Old Fort ‘B’ both of which were still within striking distance of a semi-final spot at the end of the second night.
GCC scored a 5-2 win over their opponents after they had made an early run by slamming in two early goals in the 7th and 8th minutes of the first half from Shaka Gill and Eric Hing and added to their lead shortly after the break via Andrew Xavier in the 22nd minute.
Old Fort surprisingly came to life in the second half led by the veterans Dexter Wyles and Robert Hussein with good support from speedy midfielder Dwayne Allen.
Wyles and Hussein scored one goal apiece in the 25th and 27th minutes to pull their team back within one, but the superior fitness of the young Bourda crew would prove too much as they slammed home two more through Captain Chris Xavier and Gill.
The Western Dragons edged out Police 3-2 in a fierce contest that produced one of their typical speed-ridden battles which was kept close until the dying minutes.
Dragons scored first in the 5th minute through Deon Brandford but Michael Bourne equalised for Police in the 17th minute.
Dragons pulled ahead with a field goal from Jermaine Murray to take their lead into the half and while Police would draw even in the second half through Rawl Haynes, Murray slammed home the winner for Dragons 5 minutes before full time for the 3-2 victory.
The three top seeded men’s teams completed the men’s schedule for the evening by demolishing all opposition and putting on a goal-scoring clinic for the bewildered junior sides.
Old Fort ‘A’ topped the evenings tally in their 16-1 drubbing of the Carib Degenerates. While veteran James Mentore would bully his way to a consolation goal for the Degenerates, 5 goals by Askofu Simon, hattricks by his brother Aderemi, Chris Low-Koan and Jason DoSantos and a double from Dwight Sullivan all of Old Fort ‘A’ must have caused further degeneration to the former nationals.
The Everest Hikers ‘A’ took some time to get into their usual rhythm and smooth passing game against a determined Old Fort ‘B’ but eventually put the game well beyond their reach with a 10-3 final score.
Captain Devin Munroe led the Hikers with a hattricks which was supported by doubles from Jerry Bell, Shane Samuels and Marc King and a single from Robert Fernandes. Robert Hussein’s double and a single from Ryan Gonsalves completed Old Fort’s tally.
GCC ‘A’ hammered the lowly Everest Hikers ‘B’ in the final men’s match of the evening 13-0.
Orland Semple and Kevin Spencer set off on a personal goal-scoring duel as they alternated for the first 6 goals of the match, both finishing with helmet tricks (4 goals) which were joined by doubles from veterans Alan Fernandes and Damon Woodroffe and a single from Devin Hooper.
The lone female match of the evening pitted the Hikers against the youthful GCC Spartans.
Despite going down by 5-2, the Spartans repeated their brave effort of the previous evening by competing against another side with far more experience in the game.
Striker Cora Towler scored a hattricks for the Hikers and she received valuable support from fellow nationals Marisha Rodrigues and Amanda Garnett.
The Hikers led a 1-0 at half time but the youthful Spartans will be a team to watch in the future as the players showed a lot of potential. Thirteen year-olds Marzena Fiedtkou and Briana Gordon netted one apiece in Spartans’ losing effort.
Everest Hikers ‘A’ top the table of Pool 1 with 6 points going at the end of the second night of action followed by GCC’B’ and Western Dragons both on 3 and Old Fort ‘B’ and Police with one point each.
GCC ‘A’ and Old Fort ‘A’ share top honours in Pool 2 with 6 points each while Carib Degenerates and Everest ‘B’ has so far failed to secure points.
In the ladies’ tournament, the GCC Tigers and the Hikers both enjoy the lead with 3 points each while the GCC Spartans remain without points.
