VENTURES are the new Mates Club Hockey tournament champions after defeating fellow Suva club Marist 1-0 in the final at the Lautoka multi-purpose courts yesterday.
Tournament official Martin Coffin said the final was evenly matched but in the end Ventures found tehir way through the Marist defence to score the winning goal.
Coffin said the tournament was a success as all participating teams came prepared.
"Apart from hockey tournaments organised by Fiji Hockey Association this is one tournament all the top hockey teams look forward to every year," Coffin said.
"We had the top eight men's teams and the best six women's teams playing in the tournament.
"The standard of competition was better compared to last year and for us we see this as a success.
"We have two new winners in the men's and women's division and that makes the competition interesting."
Last year's winner in men's competition was Mates and O'zone in the women's competition.
In the women's final Marist from Suva defeated Ventures 1-0 in another tough clash. In the under-14 final Naidrodro from Ba beat Mates 1-0.
Coffin said even though they did not have a sponsor they managed to provide prizes for all the U14, men's and women's grades.
"We did not have any sponsor so the club fundraised for all the prizes that we provided in the tournament and I have to thank members of the Mates club for the hard work they did throughout the year."