A perfect ending to the 2025 season for Hudson Park
Jubilation, excitement, and relief permeated the Hudson Park girls’ first hockey team after they ended their season with a 6-0 victory over Cambridge High School in East London on Friday.
The meeting, which took place at the Buco AstroTurf in Bunkers Hill, saw the hosts bow out in style in front of their home supporters.
It was another dominant performance from coach Jerry Snyman’s side after they thumped Kingsridge High School for Girls (KHS) 5-1 in Qonce a week ago.
A fairly young Cambridge team, meanwhile, headed into the game after a tough season. Before facing Hudson, they had lost 0-9 against Queenstown Girls’ High in Komani, so they were hurting.
Hudson, though, was on song. They dominated the game, owning more of the ball, and they created many goalscoring opportunities. They were also clinical in crucial moments and scored some fantastic goals.
SA u17 star Busiwe Mayekiso, who recently represented South Africa against Zimbabwe at the Allistar Fredericks Africa Challenge in Johannesburg, was at the forefront of it all and netted a brace.
She was joined on the scoresheet by Asiphe Zitumane, Inathi Lubelwana, Jorja Wilson, and the energetic and lively Hannah Faro.
“The game went well,” coach Snyman told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“The girls executed the plan. The first half wasn’t our best, but, after the halftime talk, the girls rallied together and played the hockey we’ve been striving for.”
In 2024, Hudson made significant strides within the Border region and scored some notable wins. Then, this season, they upped the ante to become a force to be reckoned with.
Snyman referenced some of the team’s standout moments. “It has been a great second half of the season,” he said.
“We’ve had our ups and downs this season, but the camaraderie in the team was definitely our strength.
“We had four players achieving 100 caps this year and an outstanding game vs Clarendon in July, which ended in a 1-1 draw.”
The future of Hudson Park’s hockey programme looks healthy, and the strong results will help as the push to have their first AstroTurf installed on the school’s campus continues.
Looking ahead, Hudson will field have a much younger side in 2026, with eight players leaving.
Reflecting on the changes to come, Snyman said: “Four out of the eight senior players that we are losing achieved their 100 caps this year.
“The other four players have all achieved 50 caps. This is a true testament to their commitment and dedication to the sport, as well as the potential that these young players show, so they will be missed.”
