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GCC & Hikers share the spoils in Mr. Toppers Indoor
The three GCC teams that won titles pose for a photo op last Sunday.
Hikers’ men did just enough to spoil GCC’s parade, denying them a possible first ever clean sweep in all four divisions of the Mr., Toppers Indoor Hockey Championships which ended on Sunday, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Having won the veterans, women’s and men’s second division competitions, GCC were brazen enough to enter the men’s first division final with intentions of completing the whitewash.
The outstanding hockey that prevailed throughout the evening, which featured several close battles going down to the wire, could not have met a more suitable end as the final match had to be decided in the penultimate minute.
Hikers took the floor for the men’s final as the unbeaten favourites to take the trophy, but it took a Herculean effort from them to defeat a determined GCC 7-6 as the competition remained wide open until the final whistle.
Robert France struck first with a field goal in just the fourth minute as the first half got underway at a blistering pace and the Hikers extended their lead to 2-0 when Rayon Branford netted one of his own five minutes later.
GCC, however, kept pressing the Hikers scoring circle and were rewarded two minutes before half time when Kevin Spencer put back a saved penalty corner.
The second half saw both teams determined to earn the victory and after Alex Gouveia registered a third goal for Hikers five minutes in, GCC answered with two of their own through a brilliant individual run by Orland Semple and a smashing finish by Shaka Gill to keep them in close contention at 4-3.
Kevin Spencer made it an even game in the 33rd minute with a cheeky reverse flick and just as the contest seemed destined for extra time, Hikers Captain and tournament MVP Devin Munroe blasted home a well-placed shot with one minute remaining on the clock to give his side the well deserved 5-4 win.
Earlier in the evening, the crowd was treated to an equally entertaining ladies match-up between the same two clubs which saw a reverse of fortunes as the GCC Tigers pulled off a 4-3 victory with their final goal in the last minute of play.
Hikers took the lead just after ten minutes into an evenly contested match through Amanda Garnette, but speedy Shebiki Baptiste drew GCC level only seconds later.
Ulrica Sutherland produced a classic finish on the stroke of the half to take GCC into lemon time with the 2-1 lead.
The second half saw some entertaining action on both ends including some threatening solo runs from Garnette and eventual MVP Sonia Jardine of GCC.
While Avonda James and Cora Towler added two more in the half for Hikers, a final minute penalty corner ripper from Jardine, added to an earlier goal from Trisha Woodroffe saw the Blues to victory.
GCC Vets faced Old Old Fort in the over-35 competition in another final that went the distance.
This time it took an Alan Fernandes golden goal three minutes into extra time to separate the two sides by 6-5. Gavin Hope made a gallant effort in producing a hat-trick for Old Fort with Dexter Wyles and Andre Leal adding one each, while GCC goals came through Devin Hooper and Brothers Stephen, David, Alan and Philip (2) Fernandes.
GCC won its third final of the day when the men’s second division side downed Hikers 1 by 5 goals to 4.
Young Stephen Xavier led the GCC goal-scorers with a double in the closing minutes, while team-mates Stuart Gonsalves, Leonard George and Trevon Smith added one each.
Rayon Branford produced a double for Hikers, but singles from Akeem Thompson and Antonio Pemberton fell short of producing a victory.
Hikers earned some consolation in the second division by securing third place through their Hikers 2 side that defeated Old Fort 3-0.
Aroydy Branford, Jamarj Assanah and Kenny Kansinally were the goal-scorers.
Devin Munroe of Hikers received the Most Valuable Player Award for the men’s first division final, while GCC players, Shad Fernandes for men’s second division, Alan Fernandes for Vets and Sonia Jardine for the ladies got the selection.
Mark Kendall of Bryden’s was on-hand to present the trophies to the winners on behalf of the Mr. Toppers brand.
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