Barbados International Hockey Festival ends with 3 finals

Senior national forward Mario Moore scored in sudden death to help seal glory for champions A Badd Connection (ABC) on Saturday in the men’s final against Total Hockey Club (THC).

The 39th Barbados International Hockey Festival concluded this weekend with three finals. ABC and THC men gave spectators a treat following the scores being locked 1-1 after forwards Joel Bodkin scored for THC (24th) and Nicholas Whiteman (32nd) responded for ABC during regular time, resulting in a penalty shootout at the National Hockey Centre.

A pressure tense situation for both teams, ABC won 3-2 on penalties through the efforts of Kwandwane Browne and Dave Cox followed by the successful sudden death strike from Moore.

THC goalkeeper Theo Farley with an injured right elbow managed to make a few good saves against ABC but it was not enough to stop ABC, led by captain and senior national player Marlon ‘Spice’ Daniel. The two successful penalty takers for THC were Dario Lewis and Anton Cox.

It was a good win for the ABC men, finishing the preliminary standings in third position on nine points behind THC on 12 and Du Badd 10. ABC defeated Du Badd 1-0 in the semi-final on Friday with a goal by Daniel that led his team to the final.

Besides the men’s final, the hockey festival also culminated with two other championship matches.

University of the West Indies (UWI) Blackbirds repeated as Masters champions, winning 2-0 over Old and Drag Down Club (ODD).

Senior Barbados player Ayanna Wilson launched the lone strike that propelled Rockets to a deserving 1-0 win against Du Badd. Wilson, captain of the national women’s team, was on target in the 13th minute and Rockets did well to defend the lone goal of the match. This is consecutive years that the Rockets achieved the feat of winning the Mixed trophy at the festival.

University of the West Indies (UWI) Blackbirds Masters played with passion and won 2-0 to repeat as champions for the second year in a row when they met the Old and Drag Down Club (ODD).

National player Kris Holder scored in the 15th minute and Josanne Thomas two minutes later in the 17th minute added another for the 2-0 result against a competitive ODD side who did try their best but were unable to find goals when it mattered.  The University side made it two in two following their success as ladies’ champions.

ABC won 3-2 on penalties when they played Total Hockey Club in the men’s final.

Earlier in the day, there was a women’s exhibition match that ended 2-2 between Toronto United and Festival XI. After racing to a 2-0 lead with goals from Jada Prescod (33rd) and Keisha Boyce (37th) for the Festival XI, Toronto responded. Ellie Peters scored a penalty stroke in the 42nd minute and Sophie Pomerleroy with the equaliser in the 45th minute off a field goal. (AS)