Woodpecker Hikers, Bounty GCC brush aside opponents

GHB/Farfan & Mendes/Woodpecker Products 1st Division Outdoor Hockey League…

By Romario Samaroo

The First Division Outdoor Hockey League organised by the Guyana Hockey Board and sponsored by Farfan & Mendes and Woodpecker Products continued at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda with Woodpecker Hikers winning the female match and Bounty GCC winning the male clash against Saints.
In the Woodpecker Women’s First Division clash between home team GCC Spartans and Woodpecker Hikers, the visitors got the better of a fairly young and inexperienced side. Even though Hikers won 2-0, the Spartans showed their fighting spirit in limiting the damage, which could have been even more.
Before a goal could be scored, Spartan’s young star Sarah Klautky was unfortunately injured when she was struck in the mouth, causing her to lose a tooth; but she managed to hold her composure and fight the pain until she was given medical attention.
Soon after, Hikers suffered an injury of their own with Annalisa Singh being struck in her face with the ball, forcing her to sit out the rest of the game.
With these setbacks, Kenisha Wills managed to score in the 13th minute before an eventful first quarter was completed. In the next 15 minutes of play, the Spartan girls composed themselves well to fend off an attacking Hikers, who were coming with everything they had, but the half way mark ended with the score 1-0.

Play in the third quarter was no different. This time it was Spartans who were on the attack, spending most of their time in the Hikers’ side of the 91-metre field.
It took the last quarter for Maria Munroe to score the second goal for Hikers, one which they had to work hard for.
After the match, Captain of the winning team, Marisha Fernandes, said, “We played a very young team. Our girls have more experience than GCC, but we didn’t underestimate them. They practised a lot and brought good competition, while we tried to do what the coach said.”
Meanwhile, in the men’s match, Bounty GCC made light work of Saints, winning 5-0. Kevin Spencer and Mark Sergeant were the prime destroyers as they each scored doubles, while Philip Fernandes chipped in with a goal of his own.
The action continues today with one match at the GCC Ground — a club clash, as GCC Pizza Hut take on GCC Spartans from 16:30h.