Bishops and SACS retain 100 percent win records
On a weekend where upsets were expected, it was business as usual for Bishops Diocesan College and South African College High School (SACS) as they picked up crucial victories over Wynberg Boys’ High and Paarl Gimnasium respectively to keep their winning records in pristine condition.
Meanwhile, in George, it was Parel Vallei who reigned supreme, thumping Outeniqua 7-2.
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Bishops hosted their southern suburbs’ rivals Wynberg Boys’ High at the Woodlands Astroturf. There, a potential banana skin was comfortably averted with a solid performance, which secured a convincing 3-0 win.
SACS, meanwhile, made a trip into the Boland to face Paarl Gimnasium and were made to sweat for their 4-3 win.
Heading into their clash, both Bishops and Wynberg were both unbeaten in the province and both had designs on claiming the early season bragging rights.
In their previous outings, Bishops had thumped Reddam Constantia 7-1, while Wynberg held Grey High, who have enjoyed an outstanding season, to a 2-2 draw.
In the highly anticipated clash, it was the hosts, who opened the scoring in the first chukka through Joshua Metttler after a scrappy short corner.
Soon after, Wynberg moved onto the attack, and earned themselves a PC, but Bishops’ goalkeeper Mu’aath Ganief kept the shot out to ensure his side finished the quarter 1-0 to the good.
The second chukka was largely subdued as both sides prodded and probed, with the defences ruling the roost.
Wynberg mustered two penalty corners, but coach Ben Wiley’s boys failed to hit the target and were unable to capitalise.
Bishops doubled their tally early in the third chukka through their skipper, Robert Veldtman.
Wynberg, just like in the first half of the match, responded by creating chances but couldn’t convert them.
Late in the final chukka, Ryan Julius’s charges put the final nail in the coffin when vice-captain Andrew Raubenheimer got onto the end of a scrappy ball into the circle to tap in for his team’s third of the match.
“We trained specific things this week and focused a lot on our defence, and being good on 1-vs-1, and I think the boys displayed that tonight,” coach Julius told SuperSport Schools after the match.
“I always strive for perfection; it wasn’t the perfect game.
“I think our PCs need work, and I take full responsibility for that, but the boys continued to trust in me and the changes we made.
“We must stay humble and grounded, though, because there is still a lot of work to do,” he concluded.
Bishops will next turn their attention to the Hibbert Shield, to be hosted by Grey High School in Gqeberha, from 1 May.
In Paarl, SACS scrapped their way to a 4-3 win over Paarl Gimnasium in a heated and highly contested encounter.
The hosts looked like they were cruising to a stunning victory early in the first chukka when they shocked the Cape Town school by scoring three goals, courtesy of an LD Nel brace and another from Johan van der Merwe.
SACS, however, with a never-say-die attitude, fought their way back into the encounter. It was Litha Kraai at the forefront of their attack. He struck twice, including once in the fourth chukka.
Their other goals were scored by Reece Theunis and Regan Wille, which ensured SACS’ record remains nothing but wins.
In George, Parel Vallei was dominant, delivering an emphatic 7-1 thrashing of Outeniqua.
With the win, coach Michael van Rensberg’s troops made it two wins in succession after they claimed an impressive 4-2 victory against Worcester Gimnasium last week.
Luka Meets did the majority of the damage, netting four times, while Luca Jordaan grabbed a double, and Jared Jacobs also got his name on the score sheet to complete a one-sided scoreline.
Western Cape Results
Fairmont High 1-0 Pinelands
Bishops 3-0 Wynberg
Stellenberg 3-1 DF Malan
Paarl Gimnasium 3-4 SACS
Parel Vallei 7-2 Outeniqua
Rondebosch vs Reddam House- Game called off due to lightning
Durbanville 9-2 Khayelitsha Hockey Club
Worcester Gimnasium 4-0 Brackenfell
Belville High 4-0 Westerford
Somerset College vs Strand
