Sapholda Hockey League: Exchequers outclass GRA to seize top spot

Defending champions Exchequers of the Bank of Ghana delivered a ruthless statement of intent as they dismantled arch-rivals Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with a crushing 7–0 victory on Matchday 6 of the men’s division in the Sapholda Greater Accra Hockey League.

Still smarting from a disappointing 3–3 draw against Legon Knights last week, the Central Bank team came out with renewed focus and wasted no time asserting their dominance. It took just three minutes for Joshua Amartey to find the back of the net, stunning a shell-shocked GRA side who are yet to come to terms with their first defeat of the season against Police the previous weekend.

With GRA visibly rattled, Exchequers held on to their slender advantage until half-time, before turning on the style with a blistering second-half display.

Kofi Okyere Quagraine starred with a sensational hat-trick, Amartey grabbed his second of the game, while Benjamin Kwofie and Elorm Akaba also got on the scoresheet to complete a famous rout over their fiercest league rivals.

The emphatic result sees Exchequers surge to the top of the table, now sitting unbeaten on 13 points from five games, overtaking Police, who did not play this round and dropping to second with 12 points. Police had briefly gone top after beating GRA 2–1 last weekend.

GRA’s campaign has quickly derailed after a promising start. Having won their first three matches, they’ve now suffered back-to-back defeats, leaving them third on nine points, with serious questions hanging over their title credentials.

Meanwhile, Army continued their quiet resurgence, edging a gritty encounter against Legon Knights with a 3–2 victory. Elsewhere, Reformers of Prisons followed up last week’s 3–1 win over Legon with another fine performance to see off Ark Men 2–1, moving them into fifth place on six points.

Ark Men remain sixth with just two points, while Legon Knights sit bottom with a solitary point from their six outings, as the first round of the men's division nears its end.

In the women’s division, GRA Royal Ladies head into the mid-season break with a perfect record, topping the standings after an unbeaten first round. The second round of fixtures is scheduled to resume on August 2.