Floodlight hockey returns to Thirst Park this evening in the Annual Banks DIH sponsored 11-a-side Night Hockey championships for both men’s and women’s teams.
The Banks tournament which is now a regular fixture on the local calendar and has developed into one of the more entertaining tournaments being the only outdoor hockey under lights has been keenly anticipated by players and spectators alike.
The tournament will bully off with Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ‘B’ squaring off with GCC Tigers as three matches are carded on the opening night.
Defending men’s first division champions and three-time winners, Hikers, are coming off their fine form of winning this year’s Farfan & Mendes League and will prove difficult to overcome.
Star striker Jerazeno ‘Skillaxe’ Bell will lead the charge with stalwarts Devin Munroe, Timothy McIntosh and the speedy Robert France adding to their powerful attack.
Three time winners and 2007 champs GCC, coming off their recent tour to Barbados in August, are likely to pose a strong challenge however with their formidable defence led by the invincible Dwayne Scott at full-back and the skilful midfielders Kevin Spencer and Orland Semple who are sure to give the crowd lots to cheers for.
Gifted Old Fort striker Aderemi Simon will lead the charge in the skilful Old Fort attack which, along with Dwight Sullivan in defence and veteran stalwarts Dexter Wyles and Wayne St. Jules, is capable of upsetting the best of teams.
In the second division competition, defending champs Old Fort are favoured to repeat their victory as dribbling sensation Jason DeSantos and the rock solid Michael Jack will complement the blistering pace of Dwayne Allen to produce a team with few weaknesses.
The talented Western Dragons side including the Sampson brothers, Deon Branford and Cobin Forbes forms one of the most lethal attacks in the game making them worthy challengers for this year’s crown.
The Degenerates have strengthened themselves this year with reinforcements in the form of Rawl Davson and Marcus Fiedtkou being added to deceptive striker Timothy Jonas and midfield stalwart Tristan Gomes.
The Stuart Gonsalves and Shad Fernandes led GCC cannot be overlooked nor can the youthful Hikers side led by up and coming stars Shaquille Assanah and Ryan Primo.
Two ladies teams will be contesting the second division competition this year.
The GCC Tigers, fresh off their recent success in Barbados and led by sensational captain Sonia Jardine and the genius of Alysa Xavier in goal are likely to create headlines against the men, as will the evergreen Hikers ladies with their superstar attack of Cora Towler, Amanda Garnett and Maria Munroe.
This evening’s fixtures read: GCC ‘B’ versus GCC Tigers, Old Fort ‘B’ versus Degenerates and Hikers ‘B’ versus Hikers ladies in the second division.
Old Fort will clash with GCC in the lone first division fixture of the night set for 21:30hrs.
Matches continue every Wednesday for the month and then Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the first two weeks of October.
