Affies’ girls and boys deliver joy with thrilling wins over Garsfontein
Afrikaanse Hoër Meisies and Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool brought joy to their supporters with captivating victories over Garsfontein‘s girls’ and boys’ teams in tightly contested Edgars Friday Nite Lights matches.
Affies Meisies, playing at Garsfontein, secured a 3-2 win, while the Witstokke claimed a 2-1 win over Garsies on the AHMP Astro.
At Garsfontein, Affies Meisies played with confidence. They didn’t look like a side that had lost its most recent match, beaten 4-1 by Paarl Gim the previous Friday. If anything, they looked like world beaters.
Coach Nicolene Terblanche’s charges asserted themselves in the first two chukkas and were rewarded with a 2-0 lead at halftime.
After the break, Garsfontein fought back, bringing the deficit back to 1-2 with a goal in the third chukka.
Affies Meisies restored their two-goal advantage in the fourth chukka. However, coach Sinoxolo Mbekeni’s side refused to yield, and they struck again, thus ensuring a thrilling finish to the contest. Garsies relentlessly hunted an equaliser, while Affies Meisies sought a killer punch.
“The girls kept fighting, and that was good,” coach Terblanche commented after the game. “Our defence all over the field, the entire game, was good,” said Terblanche, who also cited Affies’ short penalty defence as outstanding.
Lisa Klue, Clara Hartman, and Brigit Arndt scored for Affies Meisies, while Jana Seebach and Jancke Greyling replied for Garsfontein.
At Bond Street, Kean Cornelissen continued his goal-scoring run with a goal in Affies’ narrow 2-1 win over Garsfontein, with Reuben Dreyer also netting for the Witstokke.
Garsfontein is not a team that wilts under the spotlight and, despite playing away from home, they showed that by seizing the early initiative. Coach Steve Paulo’s side’s forays into the Affies’ half reaped a reward when they won a penalty corner, and Stiaan Wissing converted the opportunity into a goal.
The hosts attempted an immediate response, but their efforts were repelled, with Benje Terblanche and Lesego Msiza at the heart of Garsies’ defence. It was 1-0 to the visitors at the halftime break.
In the second stanza, Affies continued taking the game to Garsfontein, sticking to their game plan. “We maintained our shape throughout the match and moved the ball really well. We forced them to change their shape and also forced them to sit deep,” Jaydon Lincoln, the Affies’ coach, said.
Despite their tireless work in the midfield and up front, Affies trailed. Garsfontein’s defensive wall looked impenetrable. Suddenly, though, in the last five minutes of the third chukka, that match was turned on its head when the hosts struck twice in quick succession to take the lead.
The final chukka was a test of will and skill as both sides chased goals. Neither was able to break through, however, and the match ended 2-1 in favour of Affies.
“It was a good game of hockey,” Garsfonten coach Steve Paulo said afterwards.
The Witstokke’s victory over Garsfontein was their second win in consecutive weeks. Last weekend, they beat Paarl Gimnasium 3-2 at home.
Results
Girls
Garsfontein 2-3 Affies Meisies
Boys
Affies 2-1 Garsfontein
