The battle between the two undefeated ladies’ sides was a spirited and intense affair on Thursday night when action continued in the ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championship at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The GBTI GCC Roulettes and GCC Ignite took to the court, each with two wins and no losses under their belt up to that moment.
The Roulettes would fire the first shot with an opening minute stunner by Abosaide Cadogan through a penalty corner.
Makeda Harding bullied her way into the circle and evened the score at 1-1 four minutes later, but Leo Berlie produced a brilliant piece of stickwork in a solo goal to give Roulettes a 2-1 halftime lead.
The second half saw Roulettes tighten the screws on the match as Cadogan scored her second penalty corner in the 30th minute and Shebiki Baptiste the final Roulettes goal in the 33rd minute for a 4-1 Roulette victory.
The other female clash of the evening saw the GCC Spartans earn their first victory by holding off Saints 2-0. Captain Gabriella Xavier was once again on the scoreboard for the Spartans and this time joined by Vanessa Pires with a field goal.
The Pepsi Hikers continued their dominant performance in the Men’s First Division, this time routing YMCA Old Fort 11-0. Tournament leading scorer Aroydy Branford was on target four times, while Robert France scored a hat-trick for the Hikers.
50 Not Out surprised the youthful Saints with a 4-2 victory, the first of the competition for 50 Not Out. Veteran striker Philip Fernandes was the leading goal scorer for the 50s with a hat-trick, while his brother Alan added a fourth.
The GCC Pitbulls and YMCA Old Fort both chalked up wins in the Men’s Second Division competition to draw within one of the Hikers Cadets in the points standing.
The Pitbulls enjoyed a surprise 5-1 win over the Saints Scorpions, who had been having good performances up to this point. It was not a good night for Saints as the YMCA Old Fort also defeated the Saints Sensations 3-1 in the other Second Division clash.
Points standing:
Men’s First Division: Pepsi Hikers 12, Bounty GCC 6, Guyana 40s 4, 50 Not Out 3, Saints 2, YMCA Old Fort 1
Women’s Division: GCC Roulettes 9, GCC Ignite 6, GCC Spartans 3, Saints 3, Misfits 0
Men’s Second Division: Hikers Cadets 7, YMCA Old Fort 6, GCC Pitbulls 6, Saints Scorpions 4, Saints Sensations 3, GCC War Dogs 0
