Baker credits PRG’s “character” after come-from-behind win over Grey
There was an electric atmosphere, with both sets of supporters in full voice at the Rectory Astroturf when Grey High School hosted Paul Roos Gimnasium on Friday night. On the turf, the players delivered one of the most entertaining and hard-fought schoolboy hockey matches of the season thus far.
Grey entered the clash seeking a return to the win column after going down 2-5 to SACS in Cape Town last weekend.
PRG, on the other hand, was brimming with confidence after dismantling Paarl Boys’ High 4-0 in their first home match of the season.
Coach Michael Baker’s side was, however, dealt an early blow when they conceded with just 43 seconds played. Grey’s Robbie Stowe drove a quick ball into the 7m area and Luke Tait pushed it past Paul Roos’s keeper, Beor van Reenen, to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Ahead, and with their supporters in full voice, coach Andrew Beynon‘s boys upped the ante, seeking to double their advantage, and they could’ve gone up by four if it wasn’t for the acrobatic saves of Van Reenen.
There were no more goals in the second chukka. Although the visitors created chances to open their account, they failed to convert their short corners, which is an aspect of their game they will surely target in preparation for the Hibbert Shield, which will see them making a return to Grey next week.
With just under a minute played in the third chukka, Stowe, who created the first goal for the home side, turned goal scorer, sending a low drag flick from a short corner into the PRG goalbox to make it 2-0.
The visitors had to find a quick reply if they were to get something out of the match, and the fightback began midway through the third chukka.
Barend Geldenhuys whipped in a cross from the baseline, which found Josh Smit, and he deposited the ball over the goal line to bring hope to the travelling supporters.
Heading into the final quarter, Grey led 2-1 but that was quickly changed when Geldenhuys struck from open play. He, then, stuck away a rebound for a penalty corner late in the match to snatch a 3-2 win for Paul Roos, who had looked dead and buried until their third chukka opener.
“We tried a tactic in the first chukka of a half court press and almost 30 seconds in went 0-1 down and, well, that meant things had to change quickly,” coach Baker told SuperSport Schools after the match.
“We just couldn’t settle into the game, and I think we changed shape nearly five times.
“The game was end-to-end, with a high intensity throughout. Credit must go to our conditioning team, led by Josh Raymer, because we still had the legs, and showed some character.
“We have done so much work on culture and to see it come through today was just simply incredible,” he concluded.
In other matches around the Eastern Cape, Cambridge High School downed Dale College 3-1 away from home to get their season back on track.
An Aqhama Mdlulwa brace and a solitary goal by Keathan Ruiters sealed the win for the East London side.
Grey College, after playing to a 1-1 draw against Paarl Gimnasium last weekend, returned to action against Selborne College on Friday night.
After trailing early, the boys from Bloemfontein fought their way back into the clash, and convincingly handed Selborne their first defeat of the season, beating coach KJ Friend‘s team 5-2.
On the scoreboard for Grey was Matthias Visser, with two goals, Danrich Hoffmann, Gianni Tyropolis, and Duncker Hohls.
Stirling High and Kingswood College shared a 2-2 draw and, in a mid-week fixture, St Andrew’s College downed Hudson Park 3-0.
Results
Cambridge High School 3-1 Dale College
Stirling High 2-2 Kingswood College
Grey College 5-2 Selborne College
Paul Roos 3-2 Grey High
St Andrew’s College 3-0 Hudson Park
