Eden?Lodge?are the new champions of CGI Primary Schools’ Hockey.
With star player Akobe Aymes being thwarted and frustrated by Sharon’s defenders, best goalkeeper, Khalid Holder and the goal bars uprights, Eden Lodge found a hero in Raghnall Yarde-Deane. He scored twice in their 2-0 triumph in yesterday’s final at the Netball Stadium.
Earlier, the stars on both finalists teams shone brightly in the midday sun with Sharon dismissing St Mary’s 4-1, and Eden Lodge stopping Luther Thorne, 2-0. O’Shae Gilkes and Jabarry Leacock had netted twice for Sharon to nullify a lone strike from Maliki Gill. Aymes then carried Eden Lodge into the finals with two classy goals.
Ironically, Eden Lodge had been eliminated by Luther Thorne in the morning’s semi-finals of the skills competition. Sharon then moved past St Mary’s to narrowly edge Luther Thorne to emerge champions in the skills section.
With Sharon eager to do the double and with Eden Lodge keen to avenge their one goal loss to Sharon in their previous zone battle, the final started at a frenetic pace on the court.
It was equally hyperactive on the sidelines with the coaches and some parents running up and down while screaming instructions to the little ones.
Something had to give as the ball was moved from end to end with skills befitting players of greater experience and age. With Sharon looking to keep out Aymes and Eden Lodge battling to deny Gilkes and Leacock, Yarde-Deane upset the odds when he pounced on a block shot from Aymes to calmly slot home the first goal.
With time running out Sharon rang in the changes and went forward in waves to find the equalizer. Sensibly, Eden Lodge blocked and countered by blasting the ball back down field.
Such tactics saw Yarde-Deane stepping up to strike again to put the game and the crown in the bag for the boys from Eden Lodge.
Aymes captured the prizes for best scorer, best forward and Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the league. His teammate Zackim Lashley was voted Best Defender.
In addition to taking the skills crown, Sharon earned the best goalkeeper title in the league through Holder while Gilkes was MVP in the skills competition.
