Southern Gauteng’s upset of Eastern Province not quite enough
Southern Gauteng A pulled off a shock on Thursday at the u16 SASHOC National Week when they handed Eastern Province A their first defeat of the competition in the last round of pool matches.
Southerns’ win injected new energy into the battle for second place in Pool A, which would secure a semi-final place alongside EP, who were already assured of their semi spot.
The defending champions, who had cruised unbeaten through their first four matches, went down 1-2 to Southerns on Hilton College’s Mansergh Astro.
Giovanna Abrahams and Lucy Wells found the back of the net for Gauteng, with Kiyara Constable responding for Eastern Province.
Despite the loss, Eastern Province still finished first in Pool A. Their reward is a showdown with Boland A for a place in the final.
Meanwhile, Heather Kane slotted the only goal of the match in Western Province A‘s tight 1-0 win over Southern Gauteng B.
That proved to be just enough for the Capetonians. They claimed second place by a single goal on goal difference over Southern Gauteng A – who had been held to a 1-1 draw by Southern Gauteng B earlier in the tournament – after posting three wins, a draw, and a loss to Eastern Province.
Southern Free State A closed out their pool stage assignments with a dominant 8–1 victory over struggling Eastern Gauteng A.
Marichelle Crous stole the spotlight, scoring four times, while Carmen van Wyk added a hat-trick, with Mpho Seloane completing the Free Staters’ big win. Renette Strydom replied for Eastern Gauteng.
Thanks to her big four-goal day, Crous now tops the goal scoring charts, with six, one ahead of Charley-Rose Boyall, of KZN Coastal A, and Lucy Holderness, of Eastern Province.
In Pool B, the contest between Boland A and KZN Inland A ended in a 1–1 draw. Lakeisha Dudley struck for Boland, while Taslyn van Wyk equalised for Inland, who, after a slow start, have grown in confidence the further the tournament has progressed.
KZN Coastal A maintained their impressive form and their perfect record with a 2–1 victory over Northern Gauteng A.
Keamogelo Baakaleng and Charley-Rose Boyall scored to secure the win, while Lenique Vogel netted Northern Gauteng’s only goal.
The clash between KZN Coastal B and Boland B ended in a 1–1 draw, with Becca Short striking for Coastal and Miné King replying for the Bolanders in an evenly balanced encounter.
The first of the semi-finals, between KZN Coastal A and Western Province A takes place on the Mansergh Astro at 10:50 on Saturday, with the second semi, between Eastern Province and Boland, starting at 13:40 at the same venue.
RESULTS
POOL A
Eastern Province A 1: Kiyara Constable. Southern Gauteng A 2: Giovanna Abrahams, Lucy Wells.
Western Province A 1: Heather Kane. Southern Gauteng B 0.
Southern Free State A 8: Marichelle Crous (X4), Carmen Van Wyk (X3), Mpho Seloane. Eastern Gauteng A 1: Renette Strydom.
POOL B
Boland A 1: Lakeisha Dudley. KZN Inland A 1: Taslyn van Wyk.
KZN Coastal B 1: Becca Short. Boland B 1: Miné King
KZN Coastal A 2: Keamogelo Baakaleng, Charley-Rose Boyall. Northern Gauteng A 1: Lenique Vogel.
KZN Inland A 3: Beayu Chiang, Rebbeca Hellberg, Taslyn Van Wyk. KZN Coastal B 1: KEmily Hughes.
