Champs in slump

DYSIDE’S TITLE DEFENCE isn’t going as planned.The defending men’s champs are still winless in their Banks International Hockey Festival campaign after slumping to another defeat in yesterday’s 1-0 loss to Old Gold Roosters at the Wildey Astro Turf.Damien Alex scored on the stroke of half-time for the game’s lone goal, as Old Gold Roosters, who improved to 2-1, gave the champs their second successive loss following Monday’s humiliating 4-1 defeat to last year’s losing finalists Dominion.In Pool A, Venslough Leacock and Jamal Whittaker each scored second-half goals as All Stars followed in Roosters’ vein to collect their second group win after blanking former kings A Badd Connection 2-0.Leacock then later returned in the veteran’s division to net for Maple in the reigning title holders’ thrilling 2-1 decision over the previously undefeated Barkinn Dogs.The seasoned forward opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Mark Owen, a former tournament organiser, equalised just four minutes later to set up an enthralling second half.But Anderson “Bunny” Phillips finally provided the winner just two minutes shy of regulation to improve the champs’ perfect record to 2-0.  Nedstar romped to the day’s biggest margin of victory, having thrashed Banks/BDF 5-0 in the Pool A of the mixed division.Banks/BDF rebounded later in the day to draw with Maple, while UWI beat Old Gold Roosters 2-1 and Dominion shut out Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force 1-0 in that same category. All Stars also blanked Combermere with an identical score-line.Intermittent showers forced the postponement of several of the games at Wanderers. (JM)