Old Fort Lamborghini and GBTI GCC complete big wins

National Indoor Hockey Championships

The annual GTT-sponsored National Indoor Hockey Championships have seen a riveting first day of matches, with the young guns displaying new tactics and the experienced players showcasing their prowess.

The participating clubs have tasted both success and defeat as they scramble to accumulate points before next Sunday’s finals.
The recently upgraded Cliff Anderson Sports Hall has been venue for eight entertaining encounters in the men’s and women’s first and second divisions.
Pepsi Hikers and Old Fort Lamborghini have led the men’s first division competition; while, unsurprisingly, the GBTI GCC Tigers and Woodpecker Hikers have won for the ladies. The second division ladies competition has seen Saints upstaging Old Fort Goal Chasers while their male counterparts, the SHC Sensations, and Old Fort Top form rounded out the evening’s winners in the male second division competition.
Supernova, comprising of the National Under 20 selection, rejoiced in an early moment of bliss as Samuel Woodroffe’s penalty corner flick found the back of the net with the game’s opening goal being scored in just the third minute of play. However, experience prevailed in the remainder of the matchup, as the Lamborghinis churned out three within the first half of play, compliments of Warren Williams and Askofu Simon.
The second half of play was no different, as the younger players struggled to find another opening while Simon continued his dominance by scoring two more goals, to seal victory for Old Fort at 5-1.
The Pepsi Hikers, meanwhile, secured win by a similar four-goal margin in their defeat of Saints. Hikers’ star-studded line-up met a determined Saints’ defense, and it would take 12 minutes before Aroydy Branford’s penalty shot would break the deadlock by beating goalkeeper Paul D’Andrade.
Young Shakeem Fausette squeezed in a goal for Saints one minute later, but the Hikers’ juggernaut rolled on to victory with two more goals from Branford, whose hat-trick was matched by a hat-trick from teammate and captain, Robert France.
Hilmar Chester scored a second for Saints late in the game to salvage some pride for this valiant team.
A while later, the same two clubs battled in a women’s first division encounter, and that contest ended in a similar margin of victory: 5-1 in favour of the Woodpecker Hikers. Maria Munroe, Latacia Chung, Captain Nicole Eastman, Michelle Mahabir and Tianna Da Costa all scored for the Hikers; while Charlia Webb scored the lone goal for Saints on the final buzzer.
The GBTI GCC Tigers looked impressive as they dominated their encounter with the young, ever-improving Bingo Spartans, outmatching them skill for skill. Sonia Jardine opened the GBTI account with a penalty corner strike in the 8th minute, while a Marzana Fiedtkou single and a double from Gabriella Xavier gave GBTI GCC a 4-0 victory.
The Saints Sensations managed a 2-1 victory over the GCC Pitbulls in the men’s second division competition, while Old Fort Top Form defeated the Hikers Young Guns by 6-3. The first ever women’s second division match of the GTT Indoor Championships finished in an entertaining 2-2 draw between the Woodpecker Hikers and the Bingo Spartans, while Saints created a minor upset in defeating the Old Fort Goal Chasers 1-0.
In other matches of the day, Old Fort Top Form overcame Hikers Young Guns with a thrilling 6–3 win in the men’s second division. Jael Gaskin was the star of the game with 4 goals, while his teammates Omar Hopkinson and Warren Williams netted one each. Samuel Garnett, Shomere Garnett and Baraka Garnett contributed to Hikers Young Guns’ tally of three.
And over in the women’s second division, Saints walked away with a 2-1 victory over Old Fort Goal Chasers.