Saints S’ Team, GBTI GCC Spartans crowed Bounty/Antonio’s Hockey Champs

The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) kick started their hockey agenda very early with their annual one-day Bounty/Antonio’s Hockey Tournament at the Guyana National Stadium.
The tournament attracted more than one team from each club as growth in membership within local clubs continued to be evident.
After a 15-year absence, the Guyana Police team returned to the field with its exciting and unique style of hockey. The Police team was very prominent and successful in the past, and it was heartening to see its re-emergence.
The tournament comprised male and female senior division. Teams were grouped, played a round-robin, and the two teams with the highest points moved to the semi-finals. In the women’s category, the Woodpecker Hikers ladies and GCC Tigers were undefeated. They placed first in their respective groups.

Semi-final action saw the Woodpecker Hikers whipping Old Fort Samurai 4-0. Maria Munroe scored a double, and Shundell Durant and Kenisha Wills each produced a single.
The GCC Tigers took on their sister team young Spartans in a nail-biting finish, as both teams fought to secure a spot in the final. The young Sara Matthias ensured her team was in the lead by scoring twice. However, the Tigers did not make it an easy win for the Spartans, and Princessa Wilkie registered a goal in fine style. The fight for the final spot continued, but the whistle blew with the young GCC Spartans in the final with a 2-1 result.
The final match of this division saw Woodpeckers Hikers coming up against the GCC Spartans one more time for the day. Earlier in the round-robin, the Hikers ladies had defeated the young Spartans. First half of the match saw both teams gaining opportunities at goal, but the game was deadlocked at half time.
In the first minute of the second half, eventual MVP Sarah Klautky intercepted a Hikers pass and raided the circle, finding herself in a one-on-one against the goalkeeper. Being the prolific player that player she is, Sarah managed to score her team’s first goal.
She did not stop there, in the very next minute, Sarah again found the back of the Hikers net. The Hikers ladies pressed up and were rewarded with a few short corners, but could not convert.
As the press continued, the Hikers defence became vulnerable, and Spartans midfielder Madison Fernandes hit a ball through the field to the only player in the Hikers’ half, Paige Fernandes. Paige made no mistake in stopping the ball and running into the circle to find the back of the net. Thus the GCC Spartans won the final 3-0.
In the men’s division, Bounty GCC and Saints Splinters topped their respective groups. The Bounty GCC went up against Pepsi Hikers in the semis while Saints Splinters were up against Saints S’ Team.
It was a massive success for the Saints Club to reach this far in this tournament, but they were faced with having to eliminate each other in one of the best games of the tournament.
Both teams fought to ensure they secured a spot in the final. After endless raids on their opponents’ goals, the game expired with neither team converting, taking them into a penalty shootout, from which Saints S’ team emerged as eventual winners.
The final saw newcomers Saints S and annual finalist Pepsi Hikers battle for the trophy. The Saints men, which were made of national under-21 players, stormed the Hikers, but the Hikers were able to contain them. At half-time, no one had converted.
Three (3) minutes into the second half, loud screams came from the Saints Camp as the Guyana under-21 captain Shakeem Fausette and eventual MVP eliminated the Hikers defence and made a pass to young Jabari Lovell, who made no error in sliding to finish his shot on goal.
Hikers did everything to register a goal, but the hungry Saints S’ team held a strong defence. Saints won the game 1-0, making it their first time to ever win a men’s senior tournament.
The GHB wishes to thank the Minister of Sports, Mr. Charles Ramson jr, for taking time from his busy schedule to join us for the presentation. It was well appreciated by the GHB and all club members.
The GHB thanks the Ministry “for allowing us to use the National Stadium, and for the continued support for the development of hockey in Guyana”.