Tony Godding Festival looms with Grey College high in confidence
After putting on impressive showings during their pre-season encounters, Grey College will be aiming to keep that momentum rolling when they make the trip down to East London from Bloemfontein for the Tony Godding Festival.
The annual festival sees some of the country’s most competitive schools headed to the coastal city, with the action kicking off on Thursday and running through to Sunday.
A lot of hockey lies ahead, so the weekend’s matches will provide teams with opportunities to not only test themselves against different opposition from around the country, but it will also give them a chance to sharpen their structures, get some game time, and finalise their preferred starting teams.
The Bloemfontein boys appear to be in good nick after winning all three of their pre-season games in the past two weeks.
First up, coach Wayne Coetzee’s side visited Pretoria to tackle Hoërskool Menlopark, and Hoërskool Waterkloof.
Their first encounter saw them breeze past Menlopark, scoring three goals through Dayne Kitching, MJ Bam, and Andrew Koupis.
In their second outing, they defeated a gritty Waterkloof side 1-0, with Matthias Visser netting the game-deciding goal.
This past weekend, Grey welcomed another Pretoria-based side to their shores, with Hoërskool Garsfontein making the trip down to the Free State.
It was a good examination for the hosts, who had their supporters behind them in full voice.
In a five-goal game, Grey grabbed a 3-2 victory, courtesy of a Luke Visser brace and a goal from Waldo Konig.
Coach Steven Paulo’s Garsfontein team kept pushing hard and clawed their way back into the match with two goals of their own.
They had an opportunity to draw level from a penalty corner right on the final whistle, but Grey kept them out and secured a hard-fought victory.
Coach Coetzee’s side opens its challenge at the Tony Godding Festival against Cambridge High School, on Friday, at 10:15.
They will play five matches in total, including facing Queen’s College, and Gqeberha’s Pearson, who produced a particularly nuggetty team in 2023.
Grey’s matches will be good preparation for a stiff schedule, which includes the Nomads Festival and the King Edward VII Easter Festival later this month.
Grey College pre-season results
Grey College 3-0 Menlopark
Grey College 1-0 Waterkloof
Grey College 3-2 Garsfontein
Grey College fixtures at the Tony Godding Festival
Friday, 15 March 2024
10:15- Grey College vs Cambridge High School @ Cambridge Astro
17:15- Grey College vs Pearson High School @ Selborne College Astro
Saturday, 16 March 2024
09:30-Grey College vs Hudson Park @ Bunkers Hill Astro
13:15- Grey College vs Queen’s College @ Merrifield College Astro
Sunday, 17 March 2024
09:30- Grey College vs St Andrew’s College @ Selborne College Astro
