Garnett Street, Marian Academy crowned inaugural champions
By Romario Samaroo
A fairytale ending for the first ever Guyana Hockey Board/ Smalta Under-14 boys and girls indoor hockey tournament saw Hikers Hockey Club (HHC) Garnett Street and Marian Academy being crowned the inaugural champions on Friday night.
Playing at the Marian Academy auditorium, Garnett Street worked their way in the nail biting climax to snatch the title from Saints Hockey Club (SHC) Scalpels in the final of the boys’ category.
The impressive Garnett Street remained undefeated throughout the competition
After a 1-1 draw at full time, the winners had to be decided by an intense penalty shootout with three taking to the line; however it was a blunder by one Scalpel star that allowed Garnett Street. It was no looking back from there as they sunk all three of their goals and seal the deal.
Earlier in the evening, Scalpels had advanced from the semi-finals where they denied their club team, Samurai in a 3-0 contest to qualify for the finals while Garnett Street made it another penalty shootout where they were forced to sudden death, this time against St. Joseph High. Garnett Street and St. Joseph High played to a 2-2 draw in full time but Garnett Street edged them 4-3 in the sudden death to advance.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph High, the most inexperienced side in the league who got together just about a month before the start of the tournament managed to beat Samurai and take the third place honours.
Over in the girls’ category, Marian Academy made good use of their home turf to walk away as the best team in the competition after whipping GCC Challengers 6-4. It was talented GCC striker in the girls’ class, Abosaide Cadogan who was once again the star of the day with a hat trick of goals to see her side putting up a good fight but that was not enough as her club mate, but Marian Academy star, Sarah Klautky came to the party with a hat trick of her own as well as a double from Paige Fernandes and a lone goal from Madison Fernandes that sunk the Challenger’s chances.
On their way to the final, GCC Challengers had an uphill task of defeating SHC Silencers in the first semi-final. This match too went down to the wire as the two teams were deadlocked on four goals each at the end of regulation timing but Cadogan and Riley Nurse aced their penalty shootout to qualify.
Also, Marian Academy disposed of GCC Warriors in a 5-0 thrashing again at the hands of the Fernandes pair and Klautky.
At the end of the tournament, President of the Guyana Hockey Board Philip Fernandes when speaking to Guyana Times Sport praised the youngsters for coming out in their numbers and playing a high level competition which was a good reception for the inaugural run.
“I think these are all new players and we have seen a lot of potential and I think what this does is visit schools and see each other competing, it encourages others to play the game.” The GHB President stated.
Also, Organiser of the competition, Dominique DeGroot commended the teams for an outstanding showing, rating the tournament as a “fantastic one” while relating that there will definitely be a next one as they look to expand in the following years.
