Maple romp to veterans’ title

University of the West Indies’ Shani Best (left) trying to keep control as A Badd Connection’s Marsha Drakes moves in to make a tackle during women’s action at Kensington Oval yesterday. (Picture by Craig Cozier.)

By Craig Cozier | Thu, August 23, 2012 - 12:03 AM

Maple veterans secured the first silverware of the 27th Banks International Hockey Festival yesterday at Kensington Oval, with a clinical 4-0 victory over All Stars completing a perfect tournament with their fourth straight win.

The squad, sponsored by Happy People Entertainment and boasting several former national players of the 1980s and 1990s, got two goals from Rivelino Simmons, one from key striker Adrian Nichols and a penalty stroke from Roger Gibson to seal their fourth straight crown.

All Stars completed a perfect preliminary round in the men’s division in thrilling style in rainy afternoon conditions, fighting from two goals down against the slick German side, Aixen, to win their fifth on the trot, 3-2.

Aixen were 2-0 up within six minutes through strikes from captain Philip Schmitz and Pascal Knies. But All Stars began their fightback on the stroke of half-time with Neraj Mason halving the deficit.

Neil Franklin was the match-winner, with two penalty corner conversions in the final ten minutes deflating the side from Hamburg.

All Stars topped the preliminary round, while Aixen, who scored a 3-1 win over Barbados Defence Force earlier in the day, Du Badd Crew and University of the West Indies (UWI) will join them in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

In women’s action, Deacons finished top after the preliminaries following a 5-2 win over Du Badd. Pamela Forde and Corlette Kellman provided two goals apiece, while Angie Thompson supplied the other.

Defending champions A Badd Connection remain a threat despite being held 0-0 by UWI, and head into the final four along with UWI and four-time winners Old Gold Roosters. ABC defeated Roosters 3-2 in their final preliminary match late yesterday.

The mixed divisions remain competitive but defending champions Rockets, seeking their fourth title in a row, gave notice of their intentions with a 9-0 drubbing of A Badd Connection. Patrina Greaves hit four to lead the rout.

UWI and Du Badd Crew also topped their zones to qualify for the mixed semi-finals.

Day 3 scores

Men

Aixen 3, BDF 1; UWI 5, Woodbrook 2; All Stars 3, Aixen 2; Du Badd Crew 7, BDF 0; Woodbrook 3, BDF 1.

Women

Deacons 5, Du Badd Crew 2; Banks SC 2, All Stars 1; UWI 0, ABC 0; Roosters 3, Du Badd Crew 1; ABC 3, Roosters 2; UWI 2, Du Badd Crew 0.

Mixed

Rockets 9, ABC 0; Du Badd Crew 5, All Stars 0.

Veterans

Maple 4, All Stars 0; ABC 3, All Stars 0.