Battle lines drawn as Paul Roos tackles Grey High on home turf
The stage is set for the maiden Hyundai Friday Nite Lights clash in the Western Cape, with Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) preparing to take on Grey High School in Stellenbosch on Friday.
The action kicks off at 18:45 and will be LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
It will be the first outing of the second term for both sides, who have already seen action in festivals, and on tours.
In recent years, the PRG vs. Grey fixture has been one of the most entertaining games of the season.
The two sides are usually well-matched and they play a similar brand of hockey, with strong defensive players, smooth midfielders, and forwards who can convert.
More of the same can be expected this time around with the coaches, Michael Baker and Andrew Beynon, both guiding young and energetic squads.
A lot has changed since the teams met last year in Gqeberha in a humdinger.
In that clash, Grey High dominated the early exchanges and led 2-0 at the halfway point. PRG looked down but certainly not out and they clawed their way back into the contest before pulling off a remarkable comeback by stealing a 3-2 win.
The Stellenbosch boys displayed typical grit and character and those same attributes will be key in Friday’s showdown.
On current form, many would argue that PRG is the favourite ahead of the clash. Baker’s boys are yet to taste defeat and dominated their opposition at the Parel Vallei Hockey Festival and Coastal Cup last month.
Baker, however, will be the first to warn that “unbeaten records” flashed all over headlines mean very little when the game begins.
Grey poses an interesting challenge with some talented young players donning the blue and white jerseys affectionately known as the “Azzurri“.
The boys from Gqeberha have passed a little under the radar early in the season, although they gave a hint of their capabilities at the Synsport Tony Godding Festival, in March.
There, coach Beynon’s side was unbeaten, recording four wins, before embarking on an international tour to The Netherlands.
They played five matches there, claimed three wins and a draw, and went down once against quality opposition.
The tour and its bonding experience should stand them in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead. They’ll seek to implement some of the lessons they learnt abroad.
Both sides boast plenty of talent. Leading the way for Paul Roos will be their captain Christo Swanepoel. He’ll find strong support from exciting youngsters Seth Paterson, Tylor Carter, and Logan Lackay, while Callum van Oudtshoorn‘s experience will be useful, too.
As for Grey, their captain, Luke Tait will be on a mission to reverse last year’s result as one of the few remaining players from that team.
Other players to watch include Athi Voigt, goalkeeper Kiano Broadhurst, Liam Poole, Logan Goodard-Ford, Keegan Le Roux, and Danté Elkington.
