GHB/DMW Int’l Indoor Hockey Festival …
… Roberts nets helmet-trick for Old Fort
OLD Fort men’s hockey team swamped YMCA of Barbados 10-2 while Hikers beat GCC 3-1 when the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB)/Diamond Mineral Water 6th Annual International Indoor Hockey Festival flicked off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday.

Playing in the Men’s open category, Canada-based Guyanese Jonathan Roberts netted a helmet-trick for Old Fort in the 9th, 16th, 26th and 39th minutes while Aderemi Simon and Jason DeSantos both registered doubles.

Simon found his target in the 6th and 19th minutes while DeSantos netted in the 25th and 29th minutes.

The other two goals were scored by Trinidadians Aidun DeGannes and Nicolas Wren in the 8th and 23rd minutes respectively.

Scoring for YMCA were Timothy Parris (34th) and Shawn Heywood (37th).

In the opening game of the tournament, Timothy Jonas (19th), Timothy McIntosh (37th) and Sheldon Corlette (38th) all scored one goal each to secure a 3-1 victory for Hikers over GCC in a men’s veterans fixture. GCC’s captain and coach Philip Fernandes pulled one back for the Bourda team in the 24th minute.

In the Old Fort versus YMCA encounter, the local team went ahead when Wren played the ball from the middle to Simon on the left side and the latter took a first time shot that sent the ball into goal past YMCA’s custodian Neraj Nelson at first post.

Two minutes later DeGannes received the ball from the left flank while in the `D’ and executed a reverse flick to make the score 2-0.

One minute later, Roberts, a member of the Canadian national team received the ball in the `D’ also, drew Nelson out of goal and made a reverse flick into goal to extend the lead to 3-0.

Roberts registered his double seven minutes later from a short corner which was taken by Wren who passed the ball to Simon and he (Simon) played it off to Roberts who flicked it into the top of the opposition’s net

Old Fort then extended the lead to 5-0 from another short corner which was taken by Simon who passed the ball to Roberts and Roberts flicked to goal but the ball deflected off Nelson and Simon, lurking in the `D’, finished well to register his double.

Leading 5-0 at the interval, Old Fort kept up the pressure on the opposition and three minutes into the second session, Wren recorded his lone goal of the match.

The South Ruimveldt-based team then extended the score to 7-0 from a DeSantos right side shot

The eventual winners forced a short corner which was taken by DeSantos. The ball was played to Roberts who stopped well and flicked it into the top of the YMCA’s net.

Two minutes later DeSantos received the ball in the right side of the `D’ and placed it neatly into the net.

But YMCA rebounded with two quick goals – first off the stick of Parris and three minutes later off Harewood’s.

Roberts then recorded his fourth goal from a short corner that was taken by DeSantos who passed to Roberts and the Canada-based Guyanese finished well.

The Festival will continue today at the same venue with five matches in the morning session until 15:00 h and another five beginning at 18:00 h.