UWI Blackbirds blank BUT

Barbados Union of Teachers’ goalkeeper Ricardo Bryan had a long session in goal as the UWI Blackbirds gave the BUT Hockey Team 16 stern lessons in what it means to play against the 2019 Division 1 Men’s League Champions.

The final score 16-0 as the 2020 Barbados Hockey Federation (BHF) Knockout Cup continued at the Wildey Hockey Turf, Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, over the weekend.

The goal rush started from as early as the fourth minute with national forward Kris Holder opening the healthy UWI account. Seven other Blackbirds players would join in the onslaught, most notably the beaver trick duo of Justin Catlin and Armani Prescod. Catlin netted in the 5th, 10th, 32nd and 36th, while Prescod collected his four goals later in the match, in the 34th, 54th, 57th and 59th.

Opening scorer Holder went on to find the net again in the 31st, while Ryan Burke joined him on a brace with goals in the 11th and 20th. Other Blackbirds contributors were former CSOS midfielder/ forward James Gooding in the 15th, former Deacons defender Javier Wharton in the 44th, Kumar Hinds in the 49th and Davron Atherley in the 55th. This is BUT’s second loss of the competition, meaning elimination for them, while the Blackbirds will progress to face Williams Industries Avengers in the next round, in another do-or-die encounter.

The BUT Hockey women had a bit more success in their second leg match-up against CSOS. After losing out 2 - nil to the Waterford ladies in their first encounter, it seemed as though they were destined to repeat their first leg result, after CSOS’ Maria Sealy clobbered an early penalty corner goal past BUT custodian Kenya Alleyne in the 5th. However, BUT’s Tiffany Browne slotted home two penalty corner shots of her own, beating CSOS custodian Kristina Hinds both times from the attacking right side.

BUT held their lead for the better part of two quarters and looked in a strong position for victory, seeing off wave after wave of CSOS attacks. It wouldn’t be until about six minutes from time, that CSOS’ Reiann Stoute shot to success off the right foot, from the right side, to best Alleyne and tie the scores. In the tempo shift, BUT then pressed hard for the remaining minutes to recapture their lead, but the CSOS defence was up to the task and they were able to hold on for the draw and the point. The result booked CSOS’ place in the Women’s final against their rivals UWI Blackbirds. BUT will meet the Blackbirds this coming weekend in their last match of the rounds in a bid to salvage some pride and some points.

Earlier in the tournament the men treated the fans with a display of skill, goals and plenty of excitement. CSOS and the YMCA ended in a 2-2 draw, while formerly unbeaten teams All Stars and Deacons battled and it was Deacons who came away with the victory 3-1.