DEFENDING CHAMPIONS BNB Deacons flexed their muscles again on Sunday, beating fellow title challengers Berger YMCA for the second weekend in a row to take over first spot in the Men’s Premier Hockey League.
The youthful Deacons wasted no time in asserting their authority, going 2-0 up inside the first quarter hour following a penalty corner strike and a penalty stroke conversion.
YMCA hit back early in the second half when an overlapping Dexter Clarke hammered home through a crowd to halve the deficit.
But Deacons soon restored their two-goal cushion through a drag flick penalty corner in the 39th minute.
YMCA lacked the spark that inspired them to five wins and a draw in their first six matches and never looked likely to mount a comeback.
There were also victories for Wanderers and Combermere School Old Scholars (CSOS), who both kept their fading interest in the title race in tact.
Wanderers fought back from a goal down at half-time to see off Eastern Stars 2-1 following strikes from Peter Harris and Neil Owen.
Akeem Rudder’s brilliant deflection from Mark Murray’s powerful entry pass gave the Stars a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute.
But Harris’ crisp lash from a penalty corner three minutes after the restart and Owen’s poke home from close range ten minutes later sealed the three points for the Dayrells Road side.
Eastern Stars paid the price for a failed penalty stroke from Murray at 1-1, Wanderers goal-keeper Ayoub Suttle making a fine save.
CSOS were 3-1 winners over hapless Empire on Saturday with Gregory Puckerin netting twice for the Waterford side.
In women’s action, the two title contenders – CSOS and Empire – both continued their winning ways.
Empire overcame spirited Maple 2-0 with goals from Dionne Clarke and Nicky Brathwaite in the final 12 minutes sealing the victory.
CSOS were more comfortable winners, riding strikes from Katrina Greaves, Maria Sealy and Keisha Jordan to notch a 3-0 result over All Stars.
Sasha Sutherland’s double pushed University of the West Indies (UWI) into third place with a 2-1 come-back win over Deacons, who slipped to fourth.
Weekend’s results:
Men’s Premier League
CSOS 3 (Gregory Puckerin 2, Paul Reid), Empire 1 (Dwayne Webb)
Deacons 3 (Jabari Walcott), YMCA 1 (Dexter Clarke)
Wanderers 2 (Peter Harris, Neil Owen), Eastern Stars 1 (Akeem Rudder)
Women’s Premier League
UWI 2 (Sasha Sutherland 2), Deacons 1 (Corlette Kellman)
Empire 2 (Dionne Clarke, Nicky Brathwaite), Maple 0
CSOS 3 (Katrina Greaves, Maria Sealy, Keisha Jorda All Stars 0
