Debutant Bal Wash Ers, Bounty GCC show class

GHB/ Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival 2016…

The action in the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Tournament continued on Thursday with five thrilling matches at the National Gymnasium. The colourful and vocal crowd witnessed local side, Bounty GCC hammer Carib Hockey Club in the male division as well as debutants, United States based, Bal Wash Ers destroying Carib Hockey Club in the veterans’ category to.

In the Male matchup between Bounty GCC and Carib hockey Club, the locally based Bounty team represented the hosts well, coming out victorious with a 5-2 whipping thanks to four goals from Kevin Spencer and one from Kevin McKenize. In the first half of play, Spencer had already secured three goals (2nd, 5th and 13th minute) to push back the Caribs while Dylan Francis was able to score the lone first half goal for his side in the 17th minute (17’). Kern Ramsammy scored his side’s second goal (26’) to put them back in contention but a few good passes by Bounty’s midfield enabled Spencer to score once more (33’) and also creating the opportunity for McKenzie to score in the 35’.

In the second Male match up, local side Pepsi Hikers came up against some strong competition from the Trinidad and Tobago team, Queen’s Park Club as the two goliaths battled to an intense draw 5-5.

The Trinidadians were first on the score sheet through a beautiful play by Darren Cowie in the fifth minute only to have Hikers’ Robert France reply two minutes later. Jordan Vieira then scored a minute later before France leveled the scores once more. Vieira came back in the 13’ to secure his side’s third goal and Dominic Young added another one minute later as Randy Hope closed the first half in the 17’ with the score 3-4 in favour of the visitors. Aroydy Branford scored twice in quick succession while Vieira score his third to end the match deadlocked at 5-5.

Meanwhile, Doubles from Inder Bath ( 13’ and 36’) and Raji Singh ( 11’ and 34’) sent the USA team soaring past the Carib team late into the second half of the .

In the second Veterans’ match, Queens Park Hockey Club played the Pepsi Hickers into submission, as the mauled the local side 5-1.

Gary Chin scored twice (19’ and 38’) early on while Raphael Govia scored a hat trick (1, 11’ and 32’. Devin Munroe was the only Hicker to find the back of the net (25’).

In the two ladies matches of the night, the clash of the local giants, Pizza Hut GCC and Woodpecker Hikers ended in a 2-2 draw. With Pizza Hut leading 2-1 heading into the second half, Alana Lewis was the only one to score in the final minutes to level the score line. Toronto’s Toros clobbered Old Fort 6-Nil. Kaelan Watson (8’ and 37’) and Jaslan Stirling (21’ and 40’) score twice as Angela Lancaster (24’) and Danica Jayme (28’) score one goal each. The action continues daily with the finals set for Sunday at the same venue.