THE PEPSI Hikers and the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) GBTI Tigers claimed exciting overall victories on Saturday afternoon in the Bounty- and Antonio’s Grille-sponsored Guyana Hockey Board One-Day Outdoor Tournament, which was held at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.

Seven male teams and five female sides battled in the 25-match event, which culminated in fading light.
Seasoned players and skippers of both side, Robert France and Sonia Jardine, led from the front in the championship clash.

In the male final, the Hikers were able to dominate against Bounty GCC– the Sequel. France scored in the seventh and 18th minutes of the clash to seal the game, but it could have been by a larger margin with the top club attacking in waves, which forced their opponent to defend with large numbers.

On the other pitch, the older Tigers were able to outlast the younger GCC GBTI Spartans.
As she has done over the years, Jardine made the difference. Collecting the ball just over the halfway spot, the 40-year-old turned on her marker and then beat two other defenders before she faked the goalie to push the ball into the uprights.
Although there were several attempts by both sides, the fifth-minute first-half goal proved to be the decider.

The female semi-final clashes were both one-sided affairs. After a 0-0 first half, the Spartans dominated Saints in their final-four battle. Abosaide Cadogan scored in the 14th and 18th minutes, while Diana Charles converted in the 16th minute.

Meanwhile, the Tigers were able to get past the GCC GBTI Spice by a similar margin in their semi-final clash. Princessa Wilkie scored in the 6th and 12th minutes before Jardine sealed the game in the 17th minute of play.

Both male semi-finals went to penalty flicks. The Hikers had a tough battle against the Bounty GCC Pitbulls. The eventual overall champions had to play catch up after Kevin Spencer had scored in the opening minute, but Aroydy Banford answered in the second half to take his team to the shootout, where they triumphed.

The Sequel and YMCA Old Fort Carriers also battled to a draw (0-0), but the former were able to surge ahead in the shootout.

Tigers’ Trisha Woodroffe was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while the Spartans’ Sarah Matthias was adjudged the Most Promising Junior Female player.

In the male division, Shaquon Favourite, from the YMCA Old Fort Warriors, was voted as the Most Promising Male player, while Rayon Brandford from the Hikers won the MVP award.