After four grueling days of indoor hockey at the National Gymnasium, the Pepsi Hikers relied on experience and wile to emerge as champions of the feature Men’s Open category after a creditable challenge from the youthful Saints.
In the feature and final match of the night in front of a full house, the Hikers took first advantage with a well-finished team move as skipper Devin Munroe fittingly slammed home a field goal in the fourth minute. However, from that point on, the Saints seized control of the game and never relented, scoring three consecutive goals to leave the Hikers in panic mode.
First, Saints’ Jabari Lovell netted in the 14th minute with a well-taken goal from a penalty corner after the Hikers defence collapsed, and then just two minutes later, the talented Shakeem Fausette converted via the same route. Shomere Garnette in the second half further bolstered his side’s chance of a win with a field goal in the 32nd minute.
The Hikers showed tremendous resolve through a guest player from Trinidad and Tobago, Akim Toussaint, to make things interesting just a minute later. Veteran Hiker player Robert France would facilitate the equaliser to cap a last-gasp comeback in the 29th minute, after which the whistle was blown for fulltime.
From there, it was down to the best of three penalty shootouts. Up stepped Toussaint, who calmly rounded the Saints custodian to give Hikers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the next Saints penalty taker could not replicate, and the Hikers’ Aroydy Branford duly obliged with a clinical strike to send the Hikers 2-0 up. The next penalty taker for the Saints faltered and found his shot saved to send the Hikers’ supporters into raucous celebration, claiming the men’s open title for the 2023 tournament.
Earlier in the Republic Bank Men’s Over-35 category, GCC sequel contrived to lose to Antonio’s Hickers on penalties after fulltime saw them on level terms at 4-4. GCC took an early lead through Orland Semple before his opposite number, Toussaint, who also competed in this division, equalised for the Hickers in the third minute.
Toussaint doubled his side’s lead almost immediately, two minutes later. GCC’s Dwayne Scott, however, had an answer in the ninth minute. Hickers would forge ahead with goals from Brian Asregado (12’) and Robert France (14’), only for GCC to hit back with two late goals. Those goals came courtesy of Semple (16’) and Peter DeGroot (25’) to tie things up.
It was onto penalties, which the Hickers duly obliged, scoring 3 to 2 to defeat the GCC side. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, GBTI GCC dismantled the Trinidad & Tobago Police women 8-2 to seal the title, while Trinidad & Tobago Masters ran out 2-1 winners over GCC Vintage.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport, GHB President Philip Fernandes promised bigger and better for next year’s edition.
