Butler House lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites as they edged a determined Etheridge side 2-1 compliments of an Ato Greene double as the final of the 2013 St. Stanislaus College inter-house hockey competition concluded at the College’s Marion Forum on Monday.
The final started with both teams playing tentatively before Etheridge’s striking partnership of Shemuel King and Marcia Persaud started to pressure the Butler defence resulting in several close calls.
At half time the game was still scoreless and despite the absence of their star defender, Shani Naughton, due to injury, Etheridge’s defensive duo of Nichola Nervas and Ayeisha Boodie were acquitting themselves skillfully.
With time winding down in the second half and both teams pushing for the win it was Greene who would break the deadlock to give his team the slim lead. Greene would then push his side further ahead with a clinical finish after a solo counter attack down the right side.
Undaunted by the situation, Etheridge would be rewarded for their resilience when Nervas, upon blocking a shot in front of goal, raced the entire length of the court to pull the team within one with a well-taken strike. Despite some desperate attacking by Etheridge in the dying seconds the Butler defence held firm to spark off wild celebrations at the end of full time.
Earlier in the third place match-up, Weld defeated Galton 2-0 thanks to goals from Captain Hilton Chester and Shenay Stewart. The top three teams were presented with medals while the champions also received a trophy.
