Wayne Legerton marked his return to the senior men's national hockey team with a hat-trick as defending champions Petrotrin began defence of its T&T Hockey Board Men's Indoor Championship title with a 5-3 victory over Malvern at Woodbrook Youth Centre, Woodbrook, on Monday night. The Oilmen had just six players suited up for the match against a full-strength Malvern, but still went ahead as early as the first minute through Jonathan Williams before Legerton added field goals in the 19th and 20th minutes for a 3-0 half-time lead.
Legerton's national teammate Dwain Quan Chan extended the lead to 4-0 six minutes after the restart as the Oilmen looked set to mount up a huge score. But Malvern players never dropped their heads and replied with a double from Darryl Duncan-Hume in the 36th and 38th minute to trail 4-2 before Legerton completed his hat-trick right from the restart for a 5-2 lead. On the stroke of full-time, national Under-21 player Tariq Marcano grabbed a third for Malvern to add some more respectability to the scoreline.
Also in winners row were Defence Force and Queen's Park. The "Teteron Boys" got a goal each from national trio, Javon Woodward (23rd), Mickell Pierre (31st) and Marcus James (33rd) to beat Paragon 3-1, with Kiel Murray scoring for the losers in the tournament's opening match. Veteran player Raphael Govia then scored the first hat-trick of the tournament, in the fifth, ninth and 23rd minute to lead Queen's Park past Notre Dame 7-1.
Shaw Lee Quay added two for the Parkites and Evan Farrell and Jordan Reynos, one each while Shaquille Daniel got the Dames' consolation item. Govia also scored a hat-trick for the Parkites in a 7-1 thumping of Malvern to start its bid for a second straight crown in the Mixed Veterans Division while Gary Chin got a double and Gary Griffith and Azad Ali, one apiece. Charles Carter and Sherlan Cabralis were on target for Malvern.
Today's Matches
Men's Open
Fatima vs Defence Force, 6 pm
Checkers vs Defence Force, 7 pm
Notre Dame vs Ventures, 8 pm
Mixed Veterans
Notre Dame vs Petrotrin, 9 pm
Fatima vs Police, 10pm
