SuperSport Schools Plus

College and DHS win classy KZN hockey clashes

By Keith Fairweather , in Hockey | Featured Hockey | News , at 2024-04-07 Tags: , , ,

Glenwood offered stern resistance against Maritzburg College, but the visitors' ball possession and pressure eventually paid off in the second half.
Glenwood offered stern resistance against Maritzburg College, but the visitors’ ball possession and pressure eventually paid off.

Both of Friday night’s KZN games produced plenty of goals and praise for their players from the respective victorious coaches.

Despite windy and wet conditions, Maritzburg College and Durban High School (DHS) played to their strengths and scored five and three goals respectively to start the second term hockey season off on a high note.

College coach Kyle Emerson was positive in his post-match comments about his injury-stricken squad, who maintained possession well and played with good structure to run out 5-0 winners.

Glenwood started the floodlit game on the 3 Schools Astro with plenty of energy and determination. It was only in the 13th minute of the second chukka that College scored their opening goal from the quick reverse stick of a hardworking and dangerous Brett Hosking.

Glenwood had a handful of circle entries, with their best chance of beating SA u17 goalkeeper, Nicholas Holmes (v-c), coming in the final seconds of the fourth chukka.

Hosking netted his second from an effective right-hand side attack, while Julian Konigkramer (v-c; KZN Inland u18B last year) slotted College’s second and third goals with a neat backhand shot and a low drag flick beating Caleb Hendrikse.

Ethan Maynard wrapped up the visitors’ scoring, with College’s fifth goal coming after a swift counterattack down the “hot line.”

Coach Kezlett was humble in his post-match comments about his potent DHS team, which beat a strong and competitive Westville Boys’ High School first team in a high-class game of hockey.

Rapid inter-passing, pinpoint connections, clever “handball” movement around the opponent’s circle, and variations of their respective speeds of attacks, characterised a clash of two top teams at The Colisseum.

Excellent one-on-one eliminations from both teams, as well as clever coaching tactics, allowed Lumi Matwela (SA u17A last year) to open the scoring with a superb reverse stick shot.

Westville equalised with a deft deflection from Thabo Dlamini in front of goal, after a crash ball in from the right-hand side.

Lethabo Bogacwi (SA u18A last year) scored DHS’s stunning second goal via a right-hand side attack, with a diving shot that will be remembered by the DHS Blackmore House boarders supporting their terrific team.

Nathi Jona rounded off a good night out for DHS with another diving deflection from a deliberately delivered “slider right” off the first castle at a short corner.

Final score: DHS 3-1 Westville.

error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.