Low-scoring but thrilling clashes were the highlight of the opening night of the Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) first-division men and women’s leagues at the Providence National Stadium on Sunday night.
Playing under floodlights in what was a historic first occasion, the Woodpecker Products Women’s League bullied things off with the Woodpecker Hikers taking on YMCA Old Fort and brushing aside their opponents 2-0.
While the first period went scoreless, Trinity Greaves, daughter of former national cycling champion Alanzo Greaves, nudged the Hikers ahead in the second period, beating Old Fort’s custodian with a field goal in the 23rd minute. Jasmaine Assanah would double the lead in the third period, netting a field goal of her own in the 34th minute. The rest of the match would yield no further goals and ended 2-0 at full-time.
winning start in the Farfan & Mendes Men’s League.
In the other women’s game of the night, GBTI/GCC did just enough to hold off the Saints women, ending up 2-1 winners thanks to a second period penalty corner which Paige Fernandes converted (19th minute) and Abosaide Cadogan, who opened her account with a field goal close to fulltime (55th minute) to put GCC 2-0 up. However, Saints would go down fighting and a late surge from their attackers saw them pull one back through Makayla Poole who slammed one home after the GCC goalie fumbled the ball in the 58th minute.
It would be too little, too late however, as the full-time whistle sounded with the score 2-1 in favour of GCC.
In the Farfan and Mendes men’s league, Saints faced Pepsi Hikers and cemented their `dark horse’ label by securing a 2-1 comeback victory. Hikers had a quiet opening period before Shane Samuels netted a field goal in the 24th minute to put them 1-0 ahead at halftime. Despite conceding first, Saints rallied in the second half of the game and Javid Hussain netted his first field goal of the tournament in the 36th minute after sustained pressure on the Hikers defence.
The winner for Saints came courtesy of Baraka Garnett who slammed the ball home in the 43rd minute to put his side ahead. Saints were resolute in defence for the remainder of the game and maintained their lead to come out with maximum points.
To close off the opening night, Bounty GCC men took on old rivals YMCA Old Fort and won 2-1. Old Fort took the lead just after halftime with Warren Williams scoring a field goal in the 30th minute. However, GCC came roaring back with the dependable Meshach Sargeant (44th minute) drawing his team level. With scores level and the fulltime whistle near, veteran Dwayne Scott stepped up for GCC and bundled home a 63rd minute winner to the delight of his club mates. The tournament continues on Sunday with games starting from noon at the same venue.
