With three wins, one loss and a draw, the Cayman Hockey Club had plenty to be happy about at the conclusion of last week’s clash with Jamaica’s St. Andrew and Munroe College team.
The two sides played five matches: two all-women’s games, and three mixed – requiring a minimum of five ladies on the pitch. Cayman had the advantage with a surplus of players. For the mixed games, an entire new team came on for every match quarter.
Jamaica, on the other hand, had the reverse situation, with fewer than 20 team members in all, meaning that at times a few Cayman players found themselves sporting Jamaica’s yellow shirts and playing for their opponents.
In the first mixed game, a closely fought contest, Cayman dominated for long spells but found trying to create scoring opportunities difficult. The only chance of a goal in the first half fell to centre half and Cayman captain Jamie Ware.
After fine build-up work from winger Simon Barwick and Gill Comins, Ware came painfully close to scoring with a fine reverse-stick shot, the ball grazing the outside of the left post. Cayman again sustained pressure in the second half, but with Jamaicans resolute in defence, the Islands needed a moment of inspiration. That came from former Argentinian Under-21 international Gisela Gamba, who used her slick stick work and speed to outwit three opponents before shunting the ball past Jamaica’s keeper for a 1-0 win for Cayman.
Stung by the late loss in the first game, the Jamaicans recovered and rallied in the second, not inconsiderably aided Aaron Gardner, on loan from Cayman, in midfield.
With forceful play from several of the Jamaican ladies, Cayman’s backs felt the heat and in the third quarter Jamaica took the lead after being awarded a penalty flick following a brave goal block by Cayman defender Greg Link.
The penalty was expertly converted by Jamaican former national player Nicole Grant. Cayman remained undaunted, however, and made a quick response through veteran goal scorer Nigel Bates, when he thumped the ball past keeper James Roberston just six minutes later.
The remaining few minutes saw ferocious attacking play by both teams, but their efforts came to naught and the score remained 1-1.
The final mixed game of the tournament on Sunday morning was the Alex Horner Trophy, held in memory of the eponymous female player in her early thirties who tragically died in January this year.
“Alex was an active member of the Cayman hockey club and was the brain child behind the ladies hockey team,” said women’s joint captain Emily Walshe. “She participated in many sports on the island and hence encouraged ladies to pick up field hockey.
“Her enthusiasm for hockey and her friendly, tenacious spirit encouraged many who played for us at the weekend. She was a very popular member of the club, everyone loved her and she is sorely missed.”
Some superb play from both sides failed to produce a goal in the first half of the match, but both teams came close. Cayman’s superior possession eventually paid off, however, when in the 36th minute a series of scrimmages in the D resulted in Elaine Whitefield banging the ball home.
It was a doubly sweet moment for Whitefield – she thought she had scored by getting a touch on a goal-bound shot about two minutes earlier, but the umpires did not see the touch and gave a hit-out, much to the Cayman team’s chagrin.
That ultimately proved the only goal in the match and the Cayman contingent was delighted to hold on to the Alex Horner trophy, a beautiful old all-wooden engraved hockey stick donated by Cayman Hockey Club’s Brian Uzzell.
A tour to Stingray City, staged by Nautilus, completed the Jamaicans’ energetic weekend.
Male players: Harcourt Wason, Greg Link, Grahame Halkerston, Macbeth Remedios, Harcourt Wason, Alister Carter, Jamie Ware (coach-captain), Simon Barwick, Terence Choudury, Alton Davies, Ivan Burges (keeper), Nigel Bates (VP Cayman Hockey Club), Doc James Robertson (keeper), Simon Garnett, Mark Williams, Miles Perryman, Harold Forte, Barry Crane, Alton Davis, Aaron Gardener (coach).
Umpires: Tad Williams, Brian Uzzell, Jamie Ware and Simon Garnett.
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