Super 12 semifinalists confirmed
On Friday, Rhenish Girls’ High, Bloemhof Girls’ High, DSG Makhanda, and Paarl Gimnasium emerged as the top four sides at the Fairtree Super 12 Tournament after two days of outstanding hockey action at Oranje Meisieskool, in Bloemfontein.
Defending champions, Rhenish, will meet Paarl Gim in the first semifinal of the tournament at 09:30 on Saturday. The second semifinal, between DSG Makhanda and Bloemhof, starts at 10:40.
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Rhenish will be aiming to overcome a familiar Western Cape foe, which would put them into the title game, with an opportunity to go back-to-back as the champions.
Coach Chris Gerber’s charges have been in fine form. They played five in Group A and won all five.
“The main thing will be to stick to what we have been doing and stay calm in pressure situations. However, the Rhenish girls live for these moments, and they really want to play well and perform,” Gerber told SuperSport Schools Plus.
The coach stressed that his side would need to be firm on defence and be prepared to capitalise on all opportunities up front. Gerber understands the threat that his opponents possess. Paarl Gim boasts the most prolific forward at the tournament.
Alanda Rademeyer is top of the pops on the top scorers’ list, with a haul of sparkling eight goals in five outings. She is one of the reasons why Paarl Gim was beaten only once in Group B. Rademeyer has been the spearhead of the Gimmies‘ attack, and her goals account for two-thirds of all the goals Paarl Gim has recorded in the tournament.
In addition to the single loss, against DSG Makhanda, Paarl Gim won two and drew two in the pool stages to grab second spot in their group.
Coach Danelle van Zyl’s charges will be motivated to outdo their 2023 performance. That year, they finished as the runners-up, going down to Eunice in the final. Last year, they weren’t in top form last year and finished fifth.
DSG Makhanda, like Rhenish, completed their group assignments with an unbeaten record, winning three and drawing two to top Group B.
Geowynne Gamiet’s side scored 13 goals, six of which came off the stick of Abigail Holderness. The DSG captain is the second-highest individual scorer in the competition, and she will be eager to extend her tally as her side makes its bid for a spot in the final and a shot at their maiden Super 12 title.
However, DSG will be in for a tough challenge when they cross swords with Group A runners-up, Bloemhof, the third school from the Boland to make the final four. Coach Jenny King’s charges failed to make the semifinals in 2023 and 2024, finishing only ninth last year.
This year, though, they are a motivated bunch and showed off their ability to rise to the occasion in tough tournament play when they finished as the runners-up at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival, in April.
“Our wins can be attributed to a good defensive structure and scoring the goal that counted,” King said.
Her message to her players ahead of the semifinals was that a great team effort would be needed to overcome DSG. That’s what has brought Bloemhof success thus far in the tournament. They have also defended as a unit and attacked en masse.
Results
Group A
Rhenish: 3 (Leah du Plessis, Nicola van der Merwe, Katherine Sickle). Oranje: 0.
Eunice: 1 (Claire Volschenk). Bloemhof: 0.
Waterkloof: 2 (Mia Rodenburg 2). St Mary’s DSG Kloof: 0.
St Mary’s DSG Kloof: 0. Oranje: 0.
Bloemhof: 1 (Leila van Zyl). Waterkloof: 0.
Rhenish: 2 (Phillipa Viljoen 2). Eunice: 1 (Bianca Rees-Gibbs).
Group B:
Our Lady of Fatima: 1 (Stella Fourie). Collegiate: 0.
St Anne’s: 3 (Iminathi Ngxola, Emma Thomas, Willow Crawford). Paarl Gim: 3 (Alanda Rademeyer 3).
DSG Makhanda: 1 (Jessica Stevens). Collegiate: 1 (Jana Prinsloo).
Paarl Gim: 2 (Anya Swanepoel, Isabella Nel). Menlopark: 1 (Not Supplied)
St Anne’s: 1 (Belle Hofmeyr). Our Lady of Fatima (Gabby Hall).
St Anne’s: 0. Collegiate: 0.
Menlopark: 2 (Monique Gerber, Zoe Badenhorst). Our Lady of Fatima: 1 (Bella Slater)
DSG Makhanda: 3 (Abigail Holderness 2, Anna Olivier). Paarl Gim: 1 (Alanda Rademeyer)
Crosspool matches
St Mary’s DSG Kloof: 1 (Jenna-Leigh Freese). Our Lady of Fatima: 0.
Menlopark: 1 (Chanette Jansen van Vuuren). Oranje: 0.
