By Michelangelo Jacobus
A commanding performance from Guyana’s captain Robert France who had an attacker’s dream of a game ensured Guyana blew away Mexico 12-0. While they looked disjointed and out of sorts on Tuesday, the Guyanese rebounded spectacularly to make light work of the Central American visitors as action in the Pan American Indoor Hockey Tournament entered day three in Georgetown.
her team’s game against Barbados
On Diwali day in Guyana, France lit up the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall when he provoked the Mexican defence with a double helmet-trick. The Guyanese captain opened proceedings with two goals in the third minute before Jason De Santos got in on the act in the 9th minute. France then sunk another double in the 12th and 14th minutes before Jamarj Assanah made it 6-0 in the 15th minute to cap a commanding first half performance.
When the second half began, it was a situation of different period-same result as France picked up from right where he left off. The captain was in scintillating form when he netted four more goals in the 24th, 25th, 27th and 29th minutes to take his game haul to a whopping eight goals.
Mexico had no answer to Guyana’s attack and were equally clueless going ahead. Andrew Stewart and Hilton Chester rounded off the victory for the home side with goals in the 26th and 34th minutes.
In an exclusive interview with this publication after his side’s victory, France explained that he came into the game “angry” because of their loss to Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. He noted that that it was important for Guyana to win and gain confidence as they will be facing the defending champions Canada today.
Canada beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0
In other day three action, defending champions Canada Women made light work of the ladies from Trinidad and Tobago as they won the opening game of day. Once again Canada was led by the in-form Kathleen Leahy who scored twice from penalty corners to cement her team’s top spot in the Women’s Division. Despite the game going scoreless for the majority of the first half, Leahy made the breakthrough in the 20th minute. She made it 2-0 in the 31st minute while Shannon Pereira sealed the victory with an eye catching field goal in the 32nd minute.
Trinidad and Tobago beat Barbados 8-2
Meanwhile, the Trinidadian men’s winning streak continued with an 8-2 drubbing of Barbados. With the win, the Trinis joined defending champions Canada as the only undefeated teams thus far. The twin island republic was led with hat-tricks from Akim Toussaint and Jordan Vieira.
Barbados took an early lead through Neil Franklin in the fifth minute but Trinidad’s Marcus James leveled proceedings just two minutes later. Next up for Trinidad was Jordan Reynos who made it 2-1 in the 9th minute. Toussaint then added two goals in two minutes (18th and 19th) as Trinidad began taking the game away from Barbados. Meanwhile Jordan Vieira scored three successive goals in the 23rd, 36th and 39th minutes while Toussaint sealed his treble in the 40th minute. Barbados’ Che Warner managed to pull one back in the 39th minute.
USA beat Argentina 4-2
The USA women showed their title credentials as Ali Campbell scored all four of their goals in their 4-2 defeat of Argentina. Campbell struck in the 10th, 18th, 22nd and 31st minutes as USA seemed to be running away with the game. However, the Argentines hit back with two late goals to add a bit of a twist. Julieta Luna and Emma Yanzi scored in the 35th and 39th minutes but it was too little too late.
