JAMMIN’ Combermere School Old Scholars (CSOS) seem set for their second straight Women’s Premier Hockey League crown after clinching a 2-0 win over title rivals Empire at the Hockey Centre last Sunday night.
Goals from Jehan Lashley and Pauline Joseph in a two-minute spell midway through the second half sealed the victory and sent them to the top of the table. CSOS now only need one win from two remaining games – against Deacons and Maple – to lift the trophy again.
It was CSOS’ second victory of the season over the powerhouse Empire side, who had won six straight titles from 2003-2008 before the Waterford ladies broke their reign last season.
Empire had the better of Sunday’s first half but spurned too many opportunities in front of goal.
Nicky Brathwaite and Charlia Warner both saw reverse stick efforts go wide in the first quarter-hour.
Brathwaite then wasted the best chance when through one-on-one against goal-keeper Gillian Marville. The national striker opted to pass instead of shoot but her ball to Ayanna Maughan was way off the mark.
Brathwaite’s half ended in further frustration when she was sent to the sin bin for dissent just before the break.
The Blues’ profligacy spilled over to the second period when they gifted CSOS the crucial opening goal following a fluffed clearance from goalkeeper Lana Als.
Joseph pounced on the weak kick and although Als got back to save her shot, the rebound fell to Lashley, who had little trouble in slapping it into the gaping bars from close range.
A few ticks later, Keisha Jordan made a marauding run from her own half into the D, outpacing several Empire defenders along the way, before slotting a pinpoint pass to Joseph, who swept home emphatically at the far post.
Jordan, always a menace, nearly made it 3-0 soon afterwards with another weaving run but her reverse stick effort just missed.
Empire earned a handful of penalty corners as they sought a fightback in the dying stages but it was not to be their night.
On Saturday, BNB Deacons spanked Vitamalt All Stars on the back of a Corlette Kellman hat-trick to move into third spot.
Powerade UWI dropped all the way to fifth as they went under 0-2 to improving CGI Maple.
In men’s action, All Stars moved into first position after clawing back from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 with CSOS.
Wanderers missed their chance to take over top spot with a disappointing 2-3 defeat by CGI Maple.
Deacons and Berger YMCA, both idle over the weekend, are still best placed with two games in hand.
Weekend results
Men’s Premier League
All Stars 2 (Damien Downes, Colin Elcock), CSOS 2 (Khevyn Williams 2)
Maple 3 (Tyrone Walkes, Shawn Griffith, Ramon Leacock), Wanderers 2 (Peter Harris 2)
Eastern Stars 4 (Akeem Rudder 3, Mark Murray), Empire 1 (Errol Clarke)
Women’s Premier League
Deacons 6 (Corlette Kellman 3, Heather Lynch, Angie Thompson, Kim Hoyte), All Stars 0
CSOS 2 (Jehan Lashley, Pauline Joseph), Empire 0
Maple 2 (Lisa Crichlow, Delia Rock), UWI 0
