Pizza Hut GCC were crowned champions of the 2017 Woodpecker Products women’s field hockey outdoor league at the Guyana National stadium Providence, yesterday.
GCC, who were already assured championship honors despite having a game remaining, played to a 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Woodpecker Hikers in the final female match-up under cloudy skies at Guyana’s premier cricket venue.
Sonia Jardine opened the scoring for the champions in the 13th minute via a penalty corner to send the GCC up one and their supporters in a frenzy.
Hikers, however, fought hard and struck back 41 minutes later in the 54th minute to level the score when squash queen Nicolette Fernandes netted for Hikers to draw level. The score remained one-all for the balance of the game as GCC ended the league atop the points table with 16 points after scoring 46 goals and only conceding one.
Hikers, on the other hand, finished in the second position with 11 points. They, however, ended the competition with a total of 11 goals while their defence conceded eight.
GCC Spartans came in third with four points while Old fort Shooting Stars ended at the bottom of the table with three points at the culmination of the league.
Meanwhile, Bounty GCC and Pepsi Hikers ended in a thrilling draw as well after a 60-minute goal from GCC’s Dwayne Scott which looped over the goalkeeper tied the score 3-3.
Hikers’ supporters, who were already celebrating their side’s 3 – 2 lead heading into the final minute, were hushed in the Farfan and Mendes sponsored male first division outdoor league, played at the same venue.
The game started with Hikers coming out strongly by netting in the third minute courtesy of a Jamarj Assanah goal. GCC, however, struck back twice in the 15th and 19th minute to end the first half in the lead with the score on 2 -1 after Scott and Kareem Mc Kenzie scored.
Hikers took the lead after the interval when Andrew Stewart and a diving Shane Samuels scored for the Pepsi side to take the lead 3 – 1. Victory, however, eluded Hikers when Scott’s heartbreaking last minute effort left Hikers bowing their heads as both teams toiled hard in cool conditions.
Hikers and GCC are tied at the top of the table on 13 points each after yesterday’s draw. Hikers, though, are strong favorites to the win the league since they have a game remaining against a less than stellar Saints side, on a date to be announced shortly.
