A strong start for local teams at CTIHT
South African College High School (SACS) and Paarl Boys’ High recorded two wins each on Wednesday, day one of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament, in the Mother City.
As a result, the two Western Cape outfits finished the day sitting atop Pools A and B, respectively, in the Elite section, with one group fixture awaiting them on day two.
SACS began their title challenge with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Somerset College in the opening game of the tournament.
After a slow start, the boys from Newlands upped their intensity and rushed into a 3-0 lead, courtesy of a Litha Kraai brace and a strike by Mohlodi Maseko.
Maseko, then, added two more goals to his tally before Josh Goulding made it six. Somerset put up a fight despite the scoreline, and Buhle Mfunelwa was their standout player.
Both sides were in action again later in the day. SACS took on St George’s Weybridge and claimed a 6-3 victory over the United Kingdom (UK) visitors, with Kraai (3), Goulding (2), and Maseko on the scoresheet once again. Sam Geering, Adam Franks, and Sam Wood netted for the visitors.
Somerset, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Windhoek Afrikaanse, and it was Mfunelwa who found the back of the net.
Paarl Boys’ High leads Pool B after picking up successive 3-0 wins over Worcester Gimnasium and Reed’s School, another of the UK participants, in their day one fixtures.
Against Worcester, Nicholas Swanepoel, AJ Fourie, and Jamie Kock found the back of the net for coach Rowan McLachlan‘s side. Later in the day, Martin de Bruyn, Ullrich Drotschie, and Fourie netted as Boishaai finished their assignments with maximum points.
Reed’s School sits in second place with three points after defeating Windhoek High School 4-2.
Pool C was dominated by Durbanville High School and Parel Vallei (PV).
Both sides have four points after sharing a thrilling 1-1 draw before winning their other game on the opening day.
In their showdown, Nathan Nissen netted for PV before Christopher Dunthorne levelled for the Durbanville boys.
PV, then, went on to beat Kingston Grammar 3-0, with Luca Jordan, Tristan Rautenbach, and Sashin Pillay finding the back of the net.
Durbanville, meanwhile, slotted four past Millfield School, with Dunthorne, Nicholas Coetzee, Elandre Pienaar, and Hugo Bredell finding the target.
Reddam House Constantia and King Edward’s School, from Birmingham, lead the charge in Pool D with four and three points, respectively.
Reddam made a slow start and drew 2-2 with Hoërskool Outeniqua in their opening match. In their second game, they claimed a narrow 2-1 win over King Edward’s, thanks to strikes by Christopher Stewart and Max Godden, while Arnav Parekh netted for the visitors.
The Western Province Invitational side occupies third place, with three points, after a 2-1 win over Outeniqua. Buhle Kama and Nezo Shoko scored for the invitational side before Outeniqua pulled one back through Danny Busse.
The Evolve section was also dominated by local teams, who produced some impressive results on the opening day.
Hermanus High School and Brackenfell lead Pool A, while Bridge House and Curro Durbanville are cruising in Pool B.
In Pool C, Edgemead and Bellville are battling for the top spot, while St Paul’s College and HTS Drostdy lead the way in Pool D.
The knockout stages commence on day two, following the conclusion of the group stage fixtures.
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DAY 1 RESULTS
Pool A
SACS 6-0 Somerset College
St George’s Weybridge 4-1 Windhoek Afrikaanse
SACS 6-3 St George’s Weybridge
Somerset College 1-1 Windhoek Afrikaanse
Pool B
Paarl Boys’ High 3-0 Worcester Gimnasium
Reed’s School 4-2 Windhoek High
Paarl Boys’ High 3-0 Reed’s School
Worcester Gimnasium 2-1 Windhoek High
Pool C
Parel Vallei 1-1 Durbanville
Kingston Grammar 2-2 Millfield School
Parel Vallei 3-0 Kingston Grammar
Durbanville 4-1 Millfield School
Pool D
Reddam Constantia 2-2 Outeniqua
King Edward’s School 4-0 WP Invitational
Reddam Constantia 2-1 King Edward’s School
WP Invitational 2-1 Outeniqua
