The Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival returned to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall where it all started last evening as the 2017 Festival got off the mark with several local ties. The Ladies division got the festival off to an exciting start with the defending silver medallists, the Woodpecker Hikers, taking on the Old Fort Shooting Stars.
The game seemed destined to be a one-sided affair as the Hikers striker Kenisha Wills slammed home two field goals in the first eight minutes of play. Old Fort regrouped however, and national defender Mino Culpepper managed a few threatening overlapping runs that saw her passes across the Hikers goal go a wasting.
Although both teams had their fair share of chances, the game would produce no further goals giving the Woodpecker Hikers the opening win of the Ladies division and of the Festival.
The other ladies match-up of the evening saw six-time Festival champions, the Pizza Hut GCC, destroy their junior rivals the Bingo Spartans 10-1. The Pizza Hut ladies opened their account just two minutes into play through national striker Kerensa Fernandes.
Fernandes would score thrice more, while Trisha Woodroffe scored three with Talia Fiedtkou and Sandy Roopnarine adding one each for GCC. Young promising striker Sarah Klautky managed the lone goal for the Spartans through a powerful penalty corner flick just before the half.
The Men’s competition saw Bounty GCC predictably get the better of Saints as they amassed eight goals to Saints one. Eric Hing opened the GCC account in the fourth minute to score the first of his two goals of the match, while Mark Sargeant was the other player with a double to his name.
Kareem McKenzie, Peter DeGroot, Dwayne Scott and Meshach Sargeant each scored singles to complete GCC’s eight. Shakeem Fausette managed to score a consolation goal for Saints in the dying minutes.
The PEPSI Hikers and Old Fort produced the most exciting match of the evening as Old Fort seemed the more threatening of the two sides in the opening minutes. The Hikers soon found their rhythm however, and 2016 MVP Aroydy Branford produced a few moments of brilliance in the seventh and 16th minutes to push Hikers ahead 2-0.
The second half saw national midfielder Jael Gaskin producing several skilful runs through the middle of the Hikers defence, including one such move where he evaded three defenders before sliding his shot past goalkeeper Jason Hoyte.
As Gaskin and the Old Fort side pressed for the equaliser in the dying minutes, the Hikers would plunge one more dagger in their opposition with a counterattacking finish from Branford to Devin Munroe. The Hikers would therefore secure a 3-1 victory.
The lone Carib Veterans division clash of the evening saw GCC Vintage outplaying Old Old Fort 3-1 with the GCC goals being scored by Alan Fernandes with two and Patrick Edgill a single. Dwight Sullivan scored the lone goal for Old Old Fort.
Matches continue throughout the week and weekend with the finals being played from 17:00h on Sunday November 26.
