The Hikers men teams showed a liking to the lights at Thirst Park by winning their matches in the latest round of action in the Banks DIH Night hockey tournament last Wednesday.
Western Dragons of West Demerara also got off to a flying start in their campaign while Hikers ladies provided little resistance to Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) men’s second division team in other matches.
In the feature match of the evening, Hikers seniors clubbed Old Fort 3-0.
Hikers’ Jerazeno ‘Skillaxe’ Bell wasted no time in making his presence felt as he carved a space through the tight Old Fort defence and let fly a blistering shot in the ninth minute of play that proved too quick for goalkeeper Michel Smith.
Bell would continue his artistry in setting up the second goal just before the half by drawing the defence out before slipping the ball to teammate Shane Samuels to make good on the strike.
While Hikers enjoyed much of the possession, Old Fort seemed determined to score in the second half but their offensive efforts left them vulnerable in the back and Bell pounced once again with a second half strike to complete the 3-0 victory for his side.
Flora GCC ladies put on a pugnacious performance in matching the Hikers ‘B’ men in an evenly-matched game that was kept even by fine goalkeeping at both ends.
The Hikers boys however, eventually pulled ahead with a well-timed deflection from Hardeo Jaganadan in the 42nd minute which gave his team the 1-0 win.
The tables turned in the following match as the Hikers ladies took the field against the GCC men’s second division team.
The Hikers were never in the match however as GCC steamrolled them 10-1. Shaka Gill, Stuart Gonsalves and Leonard George each scored doubles for GCC while Andrew Xavier, Mark Sargeant, Brian Gomes, Eric Hing and Stephen Xavier scored one goal each.
The Hikers’ lone goal came off the stick of Ashley Birkett.
Western Dragons ensured that their long trek from Uitvlugt was not in vain when they took the field next. Despite another evenly-matched battle, the Dragons would score two goals in the first half through Jermaine Murray and Chauncey Phillips to Old Fort’s one by Dwight McCalman.
The second half would remain scoreless leaving the Dragons to enjoy the 2-1 victory.
GCC and Hikers share the lead with three points each in the first division competition.
The Hikers men lead the second division table with six points edging ahead of second place GCC men on four followed by Western Dragons on three. The Carib Degenerates, Flora GCC ladies and Old Fort ‘B’ teams each have one point to their names while the Hikers ladies are yet to get off the mark.
Matches continue at Thirst Park on September 30 with a ladies clash between Flora GCC and the lady Hikers followed by another GCC vs. Hikers battle this time in a men’s second division encounter.
Old Fort ‘B’ take on the Western Dragons next before the feature first division clash between pool leaders GCC ‘A’ and Hikers ‘A’. Play starts at 18:30hrs.
