HIKERS’ men and ladies opened their account of the John Fernandes and Woodpecker Products’ Limited Second Division Hockey League on winning notes when the tournament began over the weekend at the St Stanislaus College ground, Carifesta Avenue.In play in the John Fernandes Insurance Men’s Second Division League, defending champions Hikers sounded early warnings to their would-be challengers when they tore through an undermanned but resilient Old Fort side 6-0 in the feature match of the Saturday double-header.
The highlight of the weekend, however, was the return of women’s outdoor league hockey to Guyana, when Hikers and Old Fort took to the field in the opening match of the inaugural Woodpecker Products Ladies League.
After several years of declining numbers in the women’s game due to migration, retirement and the loss of several once powerful teams such as GDF and Police, the board sent out a plea to clubs to focus on the development of female hockey.
This plea was answered by Ivor Thompson and Dwayne Alleyne who, mainly through an after-school programme at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, recruited and developed a young crop of outstanding talents who now form the core of the Old Fort women’s team.
This, along with the outstanding achievements of the women’s national team, who were supported by a Guyana Olympic Association women’s development grant, have revitalised the sport and caused the numbers in women’s hockey to quadruple in a matter of years.
In the feature match, although Hikers dominated possession through their vast wealth of former national players, Old Fort compensated for their inexperience with work rate and determination. Despite taking the early lead through goals from Nicole Eastman and Maria Munroe, Hikers were frustrated by a stout Old Fort defence for the remainder of the match.
As the game wore on, Old Fort grew in confidence and managed to break free of the Hikers high press, to force the Hikers goalkeeper into action on several occasions through Carolyn Dean and Bushani Kaladeen-led counterattacks.
Hikers had to work to hold on to the 2-0 lead until the final whistle.
The action started on Saturday afternoon when the stars of yesteryear, All Greys took on a GCC team packed with stars of the future. Despite starting the game without their full complement of players, All Greys used every bit of their experience to play a counterattacking style of hockey which saw them get out to a 2-0 lead, through goals from Damon Woodroffe and Timothy Jonas in the 21st and 28th minutes respectively.
As the game progressed in the hot afternoon sun the experienced legs began to tire and GCC slowly took control of the match through their midfield duo of Andrew Xavier and Stuart Gonsalves. However, it was the clinical finishing of forward Leonard George that earned the Bourda Boys a share of the points, when he dispatched the ball into the back of the net in the 36th and 53rd minutes, after some excellent midfield buildups.
The action continues this holiday weekend when All Greys take on Saints at 14:30hrs and GCC take on Old Fort at 16:00hrs on Labour Day (May 1.) Saturday’s matches will see All Greys against Old Fort at 14:30hrs, followed by Hikers versus Saints at 16:00hrs. On Sunday, GCC clash with Saints at 14:30hrs and this will be followed by All Greys challenging Hikers at 16:00hrs.