Masters teams light up night five

THE two Masters teams, Guyana 40s and 50 Not Out, both featuring players preparing for next year’s Masters Indoor Hockey World Cup, squared off on Friday evening in the ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships. Huge bragging rights were at stake in addition to a semi-final berth in the men’s first division competition.

Former national captain Devin Munroe set the tone of the match from the opening minute that the Guyana 40s meant business when he caught the 50s’ defence unsettled and slammed home the first goal of the match in the opening minute.

50s captain Philip Fernandes drew the game level two minutes later via a penalty corner strike that whizzed past the left ear of former national goalkeeper Tony Cole.

The superior pace of the younger Guyana 40s side, coupled with a solid defensive performance by Robert Fernandes and Dwayne Scott, took a toll on 50 Not Out and despite heroic goalkeeping by Alisa Xavier, Munroe added a second and Chris Low-Koan and Devin Hooper one each before the half to give the Guyana 40s a 4-1 lead.

Munroe secured his hat-trick in the second half, Brian Asregado added one with a diving finish and John Abrams rounded off the victorious seven-goal haul for the 40s. 50 Not Out gave it a genuine effort with two second-half goals by Damon Woodroffe and Dexter Wyles leaving rhe final score as 7-3 for the Guyana 40s.

Bounty GCC made light work of YMCA Old Fort in the other men’s first division clash, winning by 6-0. The Sargeant brothers, Mark with 3 and Meshach 2, were the top scorers with Kevin Spencer’s opener completing the six-goal count.

The Misfits had their best game of the tournament thus far and held the favoured GCC Spartans to a tied score for most of the first half with the scores level at one. The Spartans duo of Marzana Fiedtkou and Gabriella Xavier proved too much for the Misfits, however, as they both scored doubles to pull ahead in the second half.

Seasoned former national Maria Munroe herself produced a pair of goals from penalty corners that resulted in a 4-2 win for Spartans.

Saints executed their game plan with precision as they defeated GCC Ignite by 3-1. Kezia Chinian, national player Clayza Bobb and Charlyn Elliott each scored for Saints while captain Aliyah Gordon managed the lone GCC goal.

In the men’s Second Division competition, the Hikers Cadets cruised to a 9-1 victory over the youngest side in the competition, GCC War Dogs, while YMCA drew 2-2 with the GCC Pitbulls.

Point standings going into the final pool round day:
Men’s First Division: Pepsi Hikers 12, Bounty GCC 9, Guyana 40s 7, 50 Not Out 3, Saints 2, YMCA Old Fort 1
Women’s Division: GCC Roulettes 9, GCC Spartans 6, Saints 6, GCC Ignite 6, Misfits 0
Men’s Second Division: Hikers Cadets 10, YMCA Old Fort 7, Saints Sensations 6, GCC Pitbulls 4, Saints Scorpions 4, GCC War Dogs 0

Full Results are as follows:
MALE Division
Guyana 40s trounced 50 Not Out, 7-3
Goals:
Guyana 40s (7) – Devin Munroe 3, Chris Low-Koan 1, Devin Hooper 1, Brian Asregado 1, John Abrams 1
50 Not Out (4) – Philip Fernandes 1, Damon Woodroffe 1, Dexter Wyles 1
Bounty GCC routed YMCA Old Fort, 6-0
Goals:
Bounty GCC (6) – Mark Sargeant 3, Meshach Sargeant 2, Kevin Spencer 1

FEMALE Division
GCC Spartans defeated Misfits, 4-2
Goals:
GCC Spartans (4) – Marzana Fiedtkou 2, Gabriella Xavier 2
Misfits (2) – Maria Munroe 2
Saints beat GCC Ignite, 3-1

Goals:
Saints (3) – Kezia Chinian, Clayza Bobb 1, Charlyn Elliot 1
GCC Ignite (1) – Aliyah Gordon 1
MALE Second Division
Hikers Cadets thrashed GCC War Dogs, 9–1

Goals:
Hikers Cadets (9) – Orlando Machado 3, Sherwyn Caesar 3, David Williams 2, Devin Munroe 1
GCC War Dogs (1) – Seth Jeffrey 1
Bounty GCC Pitbulls drew with YMCA Old Fort, 2–2

Goals:
Bounty GCC Pitbulls (2) – Meshach Sargeant 2
YMCA Old Fort (2) – Shaquon Favorite 1, Daniel Woolford 1
The finals are set for today beginning at 15:00hrs.