Hudson and Clarendon share the spoils, DSG and Collegiate keep winning
There was nothing to separate Hudson Park High School and Clarendon High School for Girls when the two Border powerhouses played to a thrilling 1-1 draw in East London on Friday night.
The highly anticipated fixture, which was hyped up all week, certainly lived up to expectations in front of a packed crowd at Clarendon’s main AstroTurf.
Many players, from both sides, entered the clash fresh from representing Border u18A at the SASHOC National Week.
Hudson had six players in the provincial side compared to Clarendon’s five, so they knew each other well after spending a full week together in Pietermaritzburg.
Friendships, however, were quickly tossed out the window on Friday, with bragging rights on the line.
Clarendon made a blistering start and opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Kiara Dart, who found herself in space and seized on the opportunity to slot the ball past Mbali Khumalo in the Hudson goal.
It was a back-and-forth affair after that. Both sides created their fair share of chances, but execution inside the D let them down.
Hudson was eventually rewarded for their persistence, though, with SA u18A star Busiwe Mayekiso levelling for them in the third chukka.
It came from a short corner where, and instead of going route one, Hudson opted for a variation, which saw them play the ball across the circle to Mayekiso, who slammed it past Soyama Dzengwa in the Clarendon goal.
Both shot-stoppers, Dzengwa and Khumalo, were called into action and pulled off some brilliant stops to keep the scores level as the teams chased another goal.
It was blow-for-blow in the final chukka, but the score remained unchanged. It finished only 1-1, but it was, nonetheless, a thrilling clash.
“It was a really good game. Clarendon came out in the first five minutes and were pumped up and scored early, but our girls kept going,” Hudson Park head coach Jerry Snyman told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“I thought our attitude was better today, better than it’s been the whole season. We showed good fight. We had our chances. They had their chances. So, it was 50/50.”
Meetings between Hudson Park and Clarendon have been fierce in recent seasons, and the coach believes the newfound rivalry bodes well for the region.
“This game was good for Border hockey, without a doubt,” he reckoned.
“I know the girls always look forward to playing Clarendon because it’s competitive. After the IPTs, I thought we would be in a difficult space, but we were good, and so were they.”
The same sentiments were shared by Clarendon head coach Luaan Sedras, who was impressed by his side’s showing in the final chukka.
“It was a battle,” he said. “We sort of relaxed after the first goal and lost a bit of our shape after making some changes.
“In the last chukka, we improved and played with some good shape and good passes. Clinically, not good enough, but anyone could’ve won it.”
Sedras also labelled the clash as an East London “blockbuster” and emphasised how Friday’s match will positively impact both sides moving forward.
His side faces Queenstown Girls’ High next weekend in Komani, while Hudson shifts their attention to Stirling High.
Other matches
Also, in East London, Stirling High posted a 3-1 win over Kingsridge High School for Girls, from Qonce. Julia Kockott scored a brace before Logan McLaren sealed the win for coach Michael Dettmer‘s side.
Merrifield College were also big winners on the weekend. After playing to a 1-1 draw with Queenstown Girls’ High on Friday, coach Antonet Louw‘s side outplayed Cambridge High on Saturday morning, powering their way to a 6-0 win.
DSG Makhanda also continued their winning ways, but they were made to toil for a 1-0 win over Pearson High on home turf.
It was a tremendous tussle between the two Eastern Province giants, and it took a moment of brilliance from Abigail Holderness, who scored a scorcher, to break the deadlock and seal the win.
While DSG impressed, Collegiate was also on song, adding two more wins to their record.
On Friday night, they dismantled Framesby 11-0 before holding off a spirited York High side to pick up a 2-0 win the following day.
Against Framesby, it was Ayanda Klaas (2), Jana Prinsloo (2), Kate Brennan (2), Kerri Gillies (2), Eden Oliver, Anna Porter, and Darcey Brown who were on the scoresheet.
Gillies and Brown struck again against York.
Results
Hudson Park 1-1 Clarendon
Stirling High 3-1 Kingsridge
DSG Makhanda 1-0 Pearson High
Merrifield College 6-0 Cambridge
Merrifield College 1-1 Queenstown Girls’ High
Collegiate Girls’ High 11-0 Framesby
Collegiate Girls’ High 2-0 York
