Hikers are favourites in men’s and women’s finals of Toppers Indoor Hockey tourney

The Hikers and GCC men produced a thriller in the feature match of Friday night at the Mr. Toppers Indoor Hockey Championships.  The thunderous crowd were kept in suspense until the final whistle when the Hikers emerged victorious by the narrow 7-6 margin.  Although the Hikers scored in only the second minute of play through the nippy Robert France, a Kevin Spencer field goal one minute later and a powerful Dwayne Scott penalty corner conversion gave the Bourda boys the 2-1 lead at the half.
Despite an entertaining first half, no one could have guessed what was yet in store as the teams returned to the court for the final 20 minutes.  The Hikers capitalized on the slimmest of chances to equalise through an Alex Gouveia counterattack and go one up when Shane Samuels pierced the GCC cage with a well placed penalty corner.  The momentum swung heavily in favour of the green and gold as the Hikers seized control of the match and a bewildered GCC.  Samuels slammed home two more to complete his hat-trick while Robert Fernandes and young Jamarj Assanah drove home one each to give the Hikers a comfortable 7-2 lead with just three minutes remaining.
It would be the longest three minutes ever experienced by the now relaxed Hikers as GCC came storming back against the unlikely odds.  A Devin Hooper penalty stroke and Kevin Spencer field goal took one more minute off the clock as GCC played a full court press in desperation to change the outcome.  Spencer would add a second field goal and another Scott penalty corner brought his team within one at the final buzzer.  With the Hikers holding on to the 7-6 win, the men’s first division final which sees a repeat of this clash is highly anticipated.
Earlier in the evening the young GCC Spartans were no match for the Hikers ladies who chalked up a 3-1 victory with a penalty corner goal by Marisha Rodrigues and a double by Cora Towler.  Marzana Fiedtkou scored the lone reply for the Spartans.
The veterans clash of the evening saw the GCC vets outclass Hickers, the veteran section of the Hikers, 16 – 3.  Jonathan Yearwood rolled back the years to score an energetic quadruple, Marcus Fiedtkou and Damon Woodroffe stuck in trebles, Philip and Stephen Fernandes doubles and Alan Fernandes and Devin Hooper one each.  Brian Asregado scored a double in reply for the Hickers while James Mentore added a third.
The Hikers 2 would have a lot to cheer about in the men’s second division as they routed the Police side that recently returned to competition by 8 – 2.  Jamarj Assanah topped the score sheet with a helmet-trick (4 goals) for the Hikers while teammates Kenny Kansinally, Andrew Stewart, Michael Harding and Colonel Haywood scored one each.  Former national Ronford Liverpool and Romein Cleto scored one each for the Police.
GCC edged Old Fort by 2-1 in their second division clash as Shad Fernandes and Sean Gonsalves scored one each for the Bourda boys while Tony Cole scored the lone Old Fort reply.  The Western Dragons rounded off the second division matches of the evening by defeating the young Hikers 1 by 3-1.  Jermaine Murray scored a hat-trick for the Dragons while the lone Hikers goal came off the stick of Akeem Thompson.
Hikers face the GCC in the men’s first division final while the two clubs repeat their rivalry where the Hikers ladies will clash with the GCC Tigers.  In the vet’s final, GCC go in as favourites against Old Fort while the men’s second division remains open and was to be determined by Saturday’s matches.  GCC have already secured their spot in the final while the Hikers 2, Western Dragons and Old Fort all vie for the remaining final spot.
Matches continue at the Sports Hall from 16:00hrs today with placement matches and then the four finals.