The GCC club could not ask for a better start to the 2017 hockey season as they completed the double of winning the male and female divisions of the Bounty Farm/Antonio’s Grille One day outdoor tournament on Sunday at the National Stadium, Providence.
Female MVP Aliyah Gordon (left) works her way through the Hikers’ defence at Providence
In a day dedicated to good sportsmanship and the introduction of new blood into the sport, it was only fitting that the athletes kicked off the season with an outdoor tournament, a version of the game that was far and few in 2016.
Bounty GCC men fought favorably to steal a narrow victory from Pepsi Hikers in a game that went down to the wire in a penalty shootout. Both teams, as they have been for the immediate past, the two better teams in the country, having fac
The Men’s division had some very competitive games from the opening whistle
ed each other in numerous finals finished the match 3-3 in full time, forcing the game into a penalty shootout which was won by GCC 3-2. Tournament Most Valuable Player for men, Dwayne Scott, was particularly outstanding in defence for the Bourda side in thwarting several Hikers raids on goal where Scott found himself outnumbered.
In the penalty shootout to determine the winner, Aroydy Branford and Jamarj Assanah for the Hikers and Kevin Spencer and Kareem McKenzie for GCC all scored their penalties. Hikers Andrew Stewart would see his effort go just wide of the post after a fine save by goalkeeper Medroy Scotland. Fittingly Scott would have the final say in the match and would succeed by the narrowest of margins as his initial shot hit the left upright post before he pounced on the rebound to put in into the net for the win.
Bounty GCC lost a close duel to the defending champs, Pepsi Hikers by 3-2 in the early rounds. With the Hikers playing unbeaten right up to the final, they entered as heavy favourites in their rematch against GCC who had brushed aside Old Fort 5-0 in their semi-final.
In the female division, the Pizza Hut GCC ladies took advantage of the stage by defeating all challengers and completing their dominant showing with a 5–0 victory over the Woodpecker Hikers in the final.
Pizza Hut GCC stormed through the women’s competition scoring 33 goals in five matches and only conceding one. Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Aliyah Gordon of Pizza Hut amassed 11 goals for her team which was by far the most on the day. After a spirited first half in the women’s final that saw the Woodpecker Hikers containing GCC to just one goal, the Pizza Hut ladies rattled in 4 more unanswered goals in the second half for the easy victory.
