Six matches contested on the opening night

SIX teams matched sticks on the opening night of the 19th edition of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival on Thursday night at the National Gymnasium.

Watched by a good size turn-out, the tournament, which is scheduled to climax on Sunday, began with GCC Vintage beating Old Fort Generals 6-2 in an over-45 encounter after the teams were locked at 1-1 at halftime.

GBTI GCC got the better of Saints 4-2 despite the dazzling ball control, skill and speed demonstrated by National women’s player Clayza Bobb, who scored in each half for Saints.
Vanessa Pirez opened the scoring for GCC in the 6th minute before Bobb equalised in the 15th and at halftime the score was 1-all.

Sonia Jardine and the outstanding Guyana Women’s player Abosaide Cadogan, who gave up Squash to focus on Hockey, found the back of the net two minutes apart to push GCC to 3-1.
When Sandy Roopnarine beat the Saint’s custodian in the 29th minute, it was all over for the ladies from Saints although Bobb scored her second goal in the closing stages when fired one past Goal Keeper Empress Charles.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Policewomen kept the shackles on GCC Spice as Britney Hingh, who scored a brace, provided the Trinidadian Cops with a 1-nill lead in the 16th minute before Hingh again got past Jessica Mittelholzer in goal in the 34th minute as the Guyanese lost 2-nil.

In the Men’s over-35 Category, Antonio’s Hickers mauled Old Fort Expendables 7-1 with Akim Toussaint, scoring in the 12th, 14th and 19th minute to register a hat trick while Sherwin Caesar scored a brace and Ryan Cowie and Skipper Devin Munroe netted one each before Jason DeSantos scored a consolation goal for Old Fort Expendables.

Pepsi Hickers defeated YMCA Old Fort 3-2 with Aroydy Brandford and Akim Toussaint (2 goals) scoring for Hickers.
Saints beat Bounty GCC 5-4 in a keenly contested encounter in the night’s final game.

Jabari Lovell opened the scoring for Saints in the 11th minute and while Mark Sargeant scored two goals for GCC it was Saints who prevailed.

The tournament was sponsored by ExxonMobil, Republic Bank, Value4U Inc. and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) as the platinum sponsor with their Mineral Water brand.