BOYS | Cape sides to meet for Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament title
It will be an all-Cape affair in the boys’ final of the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament on Saturday after Fairmont High School and Stellenberg High School progressed to the championship match.
Both sides impressed from the opening day, on Wednesday, and have been rewarded with an opportunity to compete for the Cup on the final day, with the clash kicking off at 17:55 at the main Hartleyvale AstroTurf, in Cape Town.
The road to the final was pretty similar for both sides. Stellenberg, led by coach Kyle Esau, had a solid start during the phase one pool stages, where they defeated Middelburg Hoërskool and Hoërskool Linden to progress to the Cup section.
There, they were drawn against Langenhoven Gimnasium, Curro Durbanville, and Woodridge College, from the Eastern Cape.
Coach Esau’s side upped the ante, played an entertaining brand of hockey, and saw off their competition to book a spot in the last four.
The semifinal was a tough clash against a well-coached and well-drilled Hoërskool Monument side.
It was blow-for-blow early on, as both teams attempted to assert their dominance. Captain Reece Green excelled and netted a hat-trick for Monument. But Liyanda Botha, Charl van Niekerk, and a brace from Jacques van Dyk saw Stellenberg to a thrilling 4-3 win.
Fairmont High, meanwhile, was pushed by Worcester Gimnasium, last year’s beaten finalist, in their semifinal.
After remaining unbeaten in the pool stages, coach Bryce West’s team faced their toughest challenge in Worcester Gim.
After a dramatic and suspense-filled clash that ended in a 1-1 draw, a penalty shoot-out to settle matters. Ryan Groenewald scored for Fairmont while Christiaan Jacobs found the back of the net for Worcester.
In the shootout, Fairmont came away with a 5-3 win.
Worcester Gimnasium and Monument will meet in the battle for the bronze medal at 15:35.
Catch all the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
RESULTS
DAY 3
CUP SECTION
Pool A
Pro-Ed Akademie 1-1 SACS Invitational
Worcester Gimnasium 1-0 Punt
Pool B
Curro Durbanville 1-0 Woodridge College
Stellenberg 3-0 Langenhoven Gimnasium
Pool C
Monument 1-1 Paul Roos Gimnasium Invitational
Outeniqua 1-1 Nelspruit
Pool D
Fairmont High 4-3 DF Malan
Hudson Park 1-1 Bridge House
Semifinals
Fairmont High (5) 1-1 (3) Worcester Gimnasium
Stellenberg 4-3 Monument
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