Old Fort, Flora GCC Tigers grab titles

Mar 12, 2009 Sports

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-Activity hailed a success

By Rawle Welch
Old Fort Gents (Men) and Flora GCC Tigers (Women) were the respective winners of the Old Fort Hockey Club One-Day Tournament which was held in Linden on Tuesday.
In the Men’s final, Old Fort defeated GCC ‘A’ 2-1 in a gripping affair, while Flora GCC Tigers scored a narrow 1-0 win against Hikers in the Ladies final.

Played before a sizeable crowd at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, most in attendance agreed it was the best start to the Guyana Hockey Board’s domestic season for sometime.
The tournament attracted all the major clubs in the country with GCC and Hikers each registering two teams in both the Men’s and Ladies categories, while Old Fort, Degenerates and Western Dragons fielded two units apiece in the Men’s Division, but none in the Ladies group. The activity was organised to revive interest in the sport in the community.

Linden also had representative teams in the competition and apart from on-field activities, the Organisers also had a well-stocked bar and food stalls to raise funds to purchase equipment for aspiring players.
The tournament which was played on a round-robin format in groups saw Old Fort Chaps and GCC ‘A’ emerge with the best records for the Men, while Flora GCC Tigers and Hikers did likewise for the Ladies at the conclusion of the preliminary rounds.

In the keenly contested Men’s final, Old Fort were the first to get on the score-sheet after going on the offensive very early when Aderemi Simon made amends for two previous misses.
He took full advantage of a scramble in the goal area after GCC goalkeeper Michael Xavier had made a partial save to a Jason De Santos shot which provided an easy opportunity for the unmarked Simon, who was lurking in the box to slot home from close range.
Askofu Simon then squandered an opportunity to increase Old Fort’s advantage, but he spewed his attempt just outside the right post.

GCC had a golden chance to level the scores after winning a penalty, but goalkeeper Mikhail Smith made a brilliant save to foil the effort from Devin Hooper.
Smarting from their lucky escape, Old Fort continued their relentless assault on the GCC goal, but poor finishing by Simon and company ensured that their lead was not extended at the break.
GCC came out of the interval looking more purposeful and got their reward in the first minute when the nippy Orland Semple evaded two tackles on the right wing and sent a pinpoint pass to Shad Fernandes, who had replaced Raphael DeGroot and he made no mistake, lashing a powerful strike past Smith to level the scores.

With full time closing in, both teams attacked with fervour, but once again it would be effervescent Aderemi Simon, who would break the deadlock seconds before the final whistle came, dribbling two defenders and with clinical efficiency smashed a shot past a hapless Xavier.
It was a fitting result for a well-played final.
The Ladies encounter was no different as the two teams who’ve had many fierce battles over the years faced off against each other.

After a cautious start, the clash heated up and Lindeners were treated to some exciting hockey as the young brigade of both teams Gabriella Xavier, Marzena Fiedtkou and Trisha Woodroofe for Flora GCC Tigers and Hikers’ Macaela Hardin showed admirable commitment.
Flora GCC Tigers took the lead through Xavier, who capitalised on a mistake to clear the ball by Hikers’ goalkeeper, intercepting an intended pass to the left back, before hitting a well-placed shot past the frustrated keeper.

Despite several anxious moments, one such when Hikers were awarded a penalty in the dying stages of the game which was subsequently missed by Amanda Garnette, compliments of a wonderful save from goalkeeper Natalie Hing, Flora GCC held firm to seal victory.
The two winners and runners-up were presented with trophies, while junior players Judah Louis (Boys) and Shannon Griffith (Girls) copped the Most Promising Players awards.
For their efforts, they were rewarded with a hockey stick and a ball each.

In results of the preliminary rounds: Hikers ‘B’ drew with Old Fort Gents 0-0; Hikers ‘A’ beat Linden (1) 4-3; GCC ‘A’ defeated Old Fort Chaps 5-0; Hikers ‘B’ swamped Linden (2) 4-0; Old Fort Gents squeezed past GCC ‘B’ 2-1; Flora GCC Tigers edged Linden (1) 1-0; Degenerates lost to Hikers ‘A’ 2-4; Flora GCC Spartans drew with Linden 0-0; Hikers ‘B’ went down to Western Dragons ‘A’ 2-0; Linden (1) beat Linden (2) 4-1; Degenerates hammered Western Dragons ‘B’ 8-2; Flora GCC Tigers needled Hikers ‘B’ 1-0; GCC ‘A’ defeated Hikers ‘A’ 4-0; Hikers ‘A’ edged Flora GCC Spartans 1-0; GCC ‘B’ and Western Dragons drew 1-1; Linden (2) beat Hikers ‘B’ 1-0; Old Fort Chaps and Western Dragons drew 1-1; Hikers ‘A’ defeated Western Dragons ‘A’ 3-1; Old Fort Chaps lost to Degenerates 0-2; GCC ‘B’ beat Hikers ‘B’ 1-0; Old Fort Gents eased past Western Dragons 3-0 and Flora GCC Tigers won 1-0 against Linden (1).

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