Defending men’s champs Pepsi Hikers, Georgetown Cricket Club and Old Fort Shooting Stars were amongst the winners when the 11th Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival commenced on Thursday at the National Gymnasium.
In the Men’s Division, GCC downed Old Fort by a 4-3 score line. Kevin Spencer gave GCC the lead in the 18th minute through a penalty stroke. He doubled his side’s lead one minute into the second period, lashing his effort into the roof of the goal.
It then became 3-0 in the 23rd minute as Spencer, finished past the custodian after latching onto a rebounded effort. Old Fort eventually pulled one back as John Abrahams netted in the 28th minute.
Abrahams who was having a quiet night up to that point kept his team’s hopes alive with a goal in the 28th minute to bring the score to 3-1. Despite Old Fort finding the back of the net two more times in the form of Dwight Sullivan and Jason Clarke respectively, GCC sealed the hard-fought win as Spencer completed his helmet trick.
In the other matchup of the division, the defending champ defeated the National u-21 unit 5-3. Devin Munroe led the winners with a double while Randy Hope, Robert France and Colonel Heywood found the back of the net once. For the loser, Aroydy Branford recorded a hat-trick. In the lone female encounter, Old Fort produced the first upset of the event, edging Hikers by a 1-0 margin. Maceala Harding separated the two sides with a penalty corner conversion 13 minutes into the second half period.
In the veteran’s section, GCC dismissed Hikers by a 6-3 score line. Dwayne Scott netted a hat-trick in the win while siblings Phillip and Alan Fernandes supported with a double and a solo effort respectively. On target in the loss were Devin Munroe, Jerry Bell and Robert Fernandes. In the second matchup of the section, YMCA of Barbados downed Old Fort 2-0. Ralph Watson and Beaumont Trotman scored for the Barbadians. Action in the tourney is slated to continue today at the same venue.
