All Stars, Maple stick it to opponents

Two teams completed emphatic 8-0 victories in the Barbados Hockey Federation’s classified competitions last weekend.

Monster All Stars, spearheaded by a hat-trick from national forward Barry Clarke, demolished Combermere, while Maple, led by Ian Butcher’s beaver-trick, rolled over Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) in men’s action at the Hockey Centre of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

All Stars had the benefit of starting the game against Combermere with no goalkeeper in the bars for the school team. To their credit, the youngsters did well to keep the score down to 1-0 at the end of the first quarter.

All Stars’ break-time team talk seemed to jolt them into action, as they stepped up by scoring five goals in the second period with strikes by Clarke, Trinidadian Dominique Young, juniors Akobe Aymes and Raghnall Deane and veteran national goalkeeper Andre Boyce, who was playing as a forward.

With Combermere goalkeeper playing in the second half, All Stars netted only two more via Clarke, who completed his hat-trick on his season debut.

BUT looked to be holding their own against perennial powerhouses Maple after a goalless first quarter. Maple stepped up in the second quarter with goals from Butcher in the 16th minute and former national defender Emmerson Phillips in the 23rd from a penalty corner.

Butcher completed his beaver-trick with goals in the 38th, 46th and 50th minutes.

Ex-national player and former Eastern Stars midfielder Cyprian Payne netted in the 40th minute while Leonard “Sparkles” Babb rounded off the goal feast for Maple with a strong strike in the 45th minute.

YMCA were also impressive winners, defeating Barbados Defence Force (BDF) 7-2 on the back of a hat-trick from Rico Bourne.

BDF were still in the contest at half-time, with YMCA leading 3-2 but the table leaders found the nets four times in the second half to move one point ahead of Combermere School Old Scholars (CSOS).

In another high-scoring clash, UWI Blackbirds defeated Deacons 5-0 with the help of a double strike from Armani Prescod.

Empire were also in winners’ row, registering a 1-0 victory against Williams Industries Avengers.

In women’s matches, UWI Blackbirds beat Maple 2-1; BUT defeated Combermere 2-0 and CSOS and Avengers played to a 2-2 draw. (HG/PR)