Hockey semis at Oval

It’s now the business end of the Banks International Hockey Festival.
Kensington Oval will be the venue for top-flight hockey today as Barbados’ premier festival moves on to the semi-final round.
After three days of competition in less than ideal conditions, the players can expect faster and more level playing surfaces on the Oval’s lush and green outfield.
United Empire, local men’s league champs, along with fellow Pool A unbeatens UWI, headline a star-studded Final Four group in the men’s draw that includes former champs ABC and All Stars.
Empire’s women have also guaranteed themselves a place in today’s semis to round out a group that features Deacons, DU Badd and ABC.
Paradise and ABC, winners of the mixed A and B zones respectively, have earned automatic qualification for the semi-finals, while Sentry Insurance Brokers Rockets, Old Gold Roosters and DU Badd will face off in one-game play-off matches to decide the other two places.
Those play-off games are slated to start at 10 a.m. ahead of the semi-finals, which are scheduled for noon. (JM)