Elijah Lowe scored a hat trick and provided an assist as Bermuda College defeated Walking Football Club All-Stars 6-3 to retain their title at Bermuda College Gymnasium on Thursday.

The champions were forced to come from behind twice before grabbing three unanswered second half goals.

Team captain Troy Lowe, former Dandy Town player Joseph Weeks (penalty) and Williston Furbert were also on target for the victorious team.

“It feels good to retain our title,” hat trick hero Lowe told The Royal Gazette. “The All-Stars team said they were going to try and put the pressure back on us this year, but we handled our business as the home team for Bermuda College. The whole team played pretty good and I am happy to play my part.”

Troy Lowe, the Bermuda College captain, was also happy to see his team tighten their grip on the trophy.

“They were trying to take away our title but we prevailed in the end and put them in their place,” he said.

“They had us going for a bit and then we picked the momentum back up and my cousin Elijah done a lot, and I put the icing on the cake.”

Dennis Brown, the Bermuda College coach, hailed his team’s hard fought effort.

“It was a lot more difficult today than it was last year in the first match when we beat them 9-3, and the guys responded and done well to win the game,” the former Somerset Trojans and Bermuda captain said.

“It was a good, entertaining game and the All-Stars definitely have improved. It was a good atmosphere with the Bermuda College crowd there and some people from outside. It was also good to see Clyde Best and Albert Dowling [former Devonshire Colts striker] there supporting and the board chairman Nasir Wade [former Somerset Trojans player] and president David Sam.

“It was a great day for the Bermuda College and great to be a part of that, and we’ll see the All-Stars next year.”

Craig Tyrrell, the All-Stars captain and former North Village winger, took defeat in stride.

“That’s two years being on the losing end for us but the performance was much better this year than last,” he said.

“Last year they beat us 9-3 and went up 6-0 in the first half. This year the score was 3-3 right up to the last five minutes of the game.

“They looked a bit sporadic on occasion and we made a tactical error at the end by pulling our goalkeeper [former Dandy Town player and coach Roger Leverock]. He wasn’t feeling the best and we put in a substandard goalkeeper, which happened to be me, and they scored three quick goals.

“They scored three quick goals within 90 seconds, and so that’s why the score was embellished at 6-3 when in actual fact the game was a lot closer than the score would say.”

Philando Hill, Andrew Griffith and George Butterfield were on target for the All-Stars with captain Tyrrell providing two assists.

Leroy “Curly” Wilson, founder of Curly’s Walking Football Club and match referee, hailed the performances of both teams.

“Today was very competitive and I really enjoyed the level itself,” he said. “I was very impressed with both teams.”

Presenting the victors with the trophy was Best, who echoed Wilson’s sentiments.

“I saw some talent out there today and congratulations to the champions,” he said.

“Unfortunately All-Stars were unable to do it, but you can’t win them all, so come back next time and make sure you put some licks in them.”