Hikers men, GCC Tigers maintain clean slates

Hikers Men’s first division team and the GCC Tigers women remained unbeaten on Friday night as play in the GT&T Indoor Hockey Tournament resumed on Friday night.

In the feature game of the evening, Hikers came away 6-4 winners over the National U-19s, but it was a victory they would be pushed to the limit to earn.
Through a penalty corner, Hikers would open the scoring – national player Jamarj Assanah sending the ball home in the 8th minute, but a minute later the U-19’s through #6, Aroydy Brandford would score a beauty of an equalizer; breaking from the field, drawing the keeper out, then skillfully skirted him on the right side to finish in style.
Assanah would re-establish the lead for the Hikers on 11 minutes after a scramble in front of goal. One minute later Colonel Heywood extended the Hikers lead – 3-1 at the half. One green card was issued – a warning to Assanah for wilful obstruction of an opposing player by umpire John Abraham.
On the resumption – Hikers applied pressure to the juniors but they held firm – ten minutes in, the U-19’s would show their willpower and reduce the deficit – a gentle tap home from Keon McKenzie as he got through the Hikers defences.
The juniors missed an opportunity to equalise and when a penalty corner was soon after awarded to Hikers, the experienced Devin Munroe made no mistake in the 34th minute for a two goal-cushion.
With six minutes to play the pace picked up with lighting fast passes and quick breaks from both teams. Munroe, however, in the right place at the right time completed his double in the 36th minute from the field 5-2.
Not to be undone, Brandford, outstanding for the U-19s scored his second – the third goal for the juniors as they roared back into action – chasing everything – and it would be Brandford in the 39th minute of play giving them the impetus to fight on 4-5 the score with under a minute to play.
Assanah though removed any chance of a draw, scoring the 6th goal seconds before the clock expired. He scored three on the night.
In female play – the GCC Tigers followed up Wednesday’s 9-nil trashing of the Hikers to win by a similar score line against Old Fort. It could have been a wider margin of victory, but as fate would have it, a few of their attacks and shots on goal went wide of the box.
Arguably the most talented female on show in this tournament with her stick work, hustle plays and scoring – Aliyah Gordon sent home 3 for the Tigers, while Ashley DeGroot and Kerensa Fernandes had doubles. There was one apiece for Tricia Woodroffe and Ulrica Sutherland.
There were three draws on the night – Second Division teams Hikers and the National U-19s played to a 3-all draw. It was a similar margin for Hikers and the U-19s in women’s action and GCC and Old Fort Veterans.
Aging as they might be – the Vets did not disappoint on the court.
The ever dependable John Abraham came off the bench to score the first goal for Old Fort in the 7th minute, collecting a pass from Dexter Wyles.
Seven minutes later Alan Fernandes with ‘Ol Boy’ and the number 8 printed on the back of his tee found the equaliser. Seconds later Devin Hooper gave GC the advantage 2-1 at the break.
Abraham on the resumption collected a pass, turned but dragged one wide that could have given Old Fort the equaliser. GCC countered and launched an attack of their own, but they too could not complete. Abraham though on the next play would make no mistake – sending the ball past Rawl ‘Muffy’ Davson in goal – 2-2 the score line.
On 21 minutes, Chris Low sent a shot into the top left of the box – Old Fort in the lead and held it until Hooper again found the equaliser for GCC -3-3 after 30 minutes; both teams taking away a point for the draw.
Hikers came from behind to earn the draw. The U-19s scored two in the first half through – Aliyah Gordon and Macaela Harding. Gordon again scored in the 2nd half for the junior ladies 3-Nil it seemed in the bag, but Hikers depended on the combined experience of Latoya Fordyce, Avonda James, Maria Munroe and Marisha Rodrigues to reign this game in.
Munroe scored the first for Hikers in the 20th minute. Fordyce reduced the deficit for Hikers in the 25th, while Latacia Chung found the equaliser in the 27th minute.
In 2nd division play – Old Fort were 3-2 winners over GCC in the opening match. Later in the evening, Old Fort made it two for two with another 3-2 win, this time over Saint Stanislaus College.
Round-robin matches continued last night.
The finals in all divisions will be contested today from 17.00hrs at the National Gymnasium.

(By Leeron Brumell)