GUYANA’S National U-21 hockey team finished second place behind Courts Malvern in the recently concluded inaugural Players Sports U-21 Hockey Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. The Guyanese, who made their way to the final following a 2-1 win over Queen’s Park Cricket Club in the semi-final, were outclassed by the Courts-sponsored team from the Twin Island Republic.
Playing at the National Hockey Centre in Tacarigua, Malvern’s Tariq Marcano and Shaquille Daniels also received Top Goalscorer and Most Outstanding Player awards respectively.
Guyana’s coaching staff expressed their satisfaction with the overall performance of the team considering that they won 7 of their 9 matches played, including two penalty shootouts.
The team also scored, on average, two goals per game and improved their overall play with every match.
There will be no rest for eight members of the team, who are also part of the national senior squad currently preparing for the Pan American Challenge in Chicklayo, Peru, from October 3 to 11.
Guyana are down to play Uruguay on October 3 and, in what is expected to be a highly-charged affair against Venezuela on October 4.
In the game against Malvern, one of Trinidad’s biggest hockey team, the two teams split their first two encounters and it was obvious from the start of the final that they were going after each other’s weaknesses.
Guyana’s outstanding striker Aroydy Branford undertook individual runs early in the game but was met with an aggressive Malvern defence who gave him very little time on the ball.
Malvern got the early breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty-corner which was slotted home by Christian Emanuel.
Both teams cancelled out each other tactically for most of the game, which meant that a moment or two of individual brilliance probably would decide the game.
Although Guyana had several goal-scoring opportunities, they were either off-target or could not deal with Malvern’s goalkeeper.
As the fourth quarter began, Guyana seemed to be gaining the upper hand and the stage was set for one of their customary, late-game comebacks.
However, Malvern showed great maturity and played the clock game to perfection by running the ball deep into the corners of the field and maintaining possession.
Guyana conceded a penalty corner just before the full-time whistle, which meant that Malvern could send all ten of their outfield players up for the set play.
Although the initial stop was fumbled, Emanuel recovered the ball and sent a powerful tomahawk shot towards the goal, which was deflected in by Teague Marcano to end the game 2-0.