SACS edges Wynberg, Bishops dominates Bish-Bosch
In highly anticipated Southern suburbs derbies, South African College High School (SACS) and Bishops Diocesan College picked up victories over Wynberg Boys’ High and Rondebosch Boys’ High respectively on Friday night.
SACS edged Wynberg 1-0, while Bishops were rampant, thumping ‘Bosch 5-1 on home soil.
Rewatch the action on SuperSport Schools
Wynberg hosted SACS in their backyard, intent on getting back to winning ways after suffering a big 1-7 defeat to Paul Roos Gimnasium the week before.
Coach Ben Wiley’s troops were fully aware that the task of beating SACS was a mammoth one. After all, SACS had outplayed Paul Roos 6-2 when they met in a league fixture.
Coach Sam Holmes‘ SACS’ boys headed into the clash full of confidence after they overran DF Malan 8-0 the previous week.
After a slow start from both sides, it was the visitors who opened the scoring with four minutes to play in the first chukka through the deadly Reece Theunis.
The goal was created by skipper Stéphan Meyer, who whipped a dangerous ball into the circle and, after a scuffle with a couple of Wynberg defenders, Theunis created some space to slot the ball into the back of the net.
In the second quarter, SACS missed three good opportunities to double their lead. Firstly, Theunis’s back-stick shot passed wide of the mark, then Regan Wille and Litha Kraai had their goal attempts saved by Zach Raizenberg.
The hosts were given a lifeline early in the third chukka when a goal by Matthew Jones was disallowed for obstruction in the build-up.
Led from the front by Western Province u18A player Ethan Lee, Wynberg grew in confidence, and despite their inability to test the SACS’ goalkeeper Noah Venter, they kept themselves in the game with a strong defensive effort, courtesy of Dayle Gertson, Daniel Rightford, Liam Kleintjies, and Caleb Schilder.
In pursuit of a second goal, SACS kept their cool. Their captain, Meyer, controlled matters in the middle, looking comfortable on the ball while linking up with Zac Redfern, Nick Paxton, and Kevin Oosthuizen.
The third chukka was goalless, and the fourth produced very little gripping action.
Wynberg, however, had an opportunity late in the match to level matters when they received a penalty corner with three minutes to play.
Their first attempt on goal was stopped by Theunis, but the PC was rewarded. This time, distribution let Wynberg down and SACS survived the late scare, winning 1-0 to continue their unbeaten league run.
“It was a bit of a weird game. We couldn’t figure them out. It was back and forth. We dominated the ball, but they kept sneaking in a chance or two, so we couldn’t afford to go to sleep,” SACS’ captain Stéphan Meyer told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“We value the midfield battle a lot. We had control of it, and we did that by setting up our wide outside backs, Nick Paxton and Cole Allen, getting them on the ball and stretching the possession, which opens up the middle.”
Meyer also praised his teammate and the SACS’ goal scorer, Reece Theunis: “He has been fantastic this season,” he said.
“He always seems to come up big in the big moments, and always plays hard, fast, and gives it his all. There’s not much more you can ask from a forward. He runs hard, sets up his teammates, and he has matured so much over the past months.”
In the other big Friday night match, at the Woodlands Astroturf, it was the in-form Bishops side who dominated against Rondebosch Boys’ High.
Bishops were without the services of their head coach, Ryan Julius who is in Poland, representing South Africa at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup. That didn’t seem to affect them at all, however, as they continued their prolific goal-scoring form, netting five times, while conceding only once.
The hosts dominated from the start, quickly taking control, and putting Rondebosch on the back foot. Relentlessly, they applied pressure, settled into a rhythm, and were rewarded with a handful of goals.
Despite their early struggles, Rondebosch fought valiantly to stay in the game and managed to win a late penalty corner, from which they scored.
However, it was Bishops’ night. Their goals were scored by vice-captain Andrew Raubenheimer, Albert Steyn, Christopher Gray, Joshua Mettler, and Adam Diggle.
RESULTS
Fairmont High 3-1 Curro Durbanville
Bishops Diocesan College 5-1 Rondebosch Boys’ High
DF Malan 4-2 Stellenberg High
Brackenfell High 0-2 Fish Hoek
Wynberg Boys’ High 0-1 SACS
Langa Hockey Club 1-0 Westerford High
