By Royston Alkins
Pepsi Hikers pulled off a thrilling effort last evening by netting 21 goals in a resounding win over YMCA Old Fort Champs on the second evening of the 2019 Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Noble House Seafoods Goals Galore Handicap Open Indoor Hockey tournament at the National Gymnasium.
Leading the way for the title contenders was top striker Aroydy Branford who netted 11 of the 21 goals while Robert France, who was his usual acrobatic self, netted four goals and Jamarj Assanah converted a hat trick in the goal fest.
Converting the other goals were Andrew Stewart, who had a brace and Joash James as Hikers completed the 21-12 win over the Old Fort side which began the game with a 12 goal handicap but failed to add to that tally.
Meanwhile, the opening match of the evening between Bingo GCC Spartans and GBTI GCC Spice ended in 6-6 draw.
Spartans began the match with a five-goal advantage but only Makeda Harding scored. Spice, on the other hand, were driven by Gabriella Xavier who netted a hat-trick which included the match-levelling sixth goal. She got support from Macaeia Harding and Dacia Woodroffe who each score a brace.
The other match of the evening at press time saw GBTI GCC Tigers rebounding from their first-round loss against Spartans to down YMCA Old Fort Wolves 9-6. Wolves had a five-goal handicap but only managed to add a solitary goal which came off the stick of Cassie Campbell.
Tigers began the match with three goals and was carried by the lively Marzana Fiedtkou who recorded a hat-trick. Sandy Roopnarine, who assisted with two goals, and Princess Wilkie were the other scorers.
In other results from Monday evening:
YMCA Old Fort Pacesetters (11) defeated SHC Slick Sticks (8) 12-11
SHC Splinters (9) defeated Bounty GCC (3) 10-9
