Tournament favourites Eden Lodge Primary registered two wins and three draws on the opening day of the 2023 National Sports Council/CGI Primary Schools’ Hockey Competition played at the National Hockey Centre in Wildey.
Eden Lodge Primary, who lost the final in 2019 to Wesley Hall Primary, are hoping to go the full distance this time around, and their chances are even more favourable, because the defending champions are not competing this year.
Today was the first of three days for the league competition and Eden Lodge had a reasonable start, with victories against St Stephen’s Primary (2-0) and Luther Thorne Memorial Primary (1-0). They drew 2-2 against St George Primary Lions and played to a goalless stalemate against Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary and Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary.
In the opening match of the day, Eden Lodge Primary escaped a draw in the final minute of the allotted six-minute encounter against Luther Thorne Primary. This was made possible by cricketer Shaquan Parris with a brilliant assist to goalscorer Kemarri Mayers for a fantastic close-range finish.
Coached by Dianna Downes, the Eden Lodge players, especially Parris and Mayers, did well to get the ball through the spaces and put pressure on the opposition defence whenever the opportunity presented itself.
The duo of Parris and Mayers returned in their second encounter of the day and handled business when they scored a goal each against St Stephen’s Primary.
Those two had a really good time on the hockey pitch and they tried to be the heroes yet again, but were held to a 2-2 draw against St George Primary Lions who relied on Dishon Browne and Phillip Carter for the equaliser.
Similarly, Eden Lodge, dressed in their traditional blue were held to a draw by Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary and Hillaby Turner’s Hall.
Lawrence T. Gay Primary fielded two teams in the competition and the A team defeated the B squad 1-0 thanks to Jai Hunte. He also scored the equaliser against Hillaby Turner’s Hall who had the 1-0 lead through Jatarie Hinds, but were unable to hang on for the win.
St George Primary Lions registered a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary compliments a goal each from Dishon Browne who opened the scoring and Kyden Padmore followed up with another.
Playing in their yellow and brown games uniform, St George returned to feature in their second match of the day against Luther Thorne and won through the efforts of Jaleil Eversley-Walcott with the lone goal of the match.
St George Lions also edged Luther Thorne Primary 1-0 and settled for a love all draw against Lawrence T. Gay. The competition continues tomorrow at the hockey centre.  (ML)
