Collegiate outsmarts Pearson in epic derby, DSG and Hudson win
Collegiate Girls’ High School maintained their unbeaten run in the Eastern Cape when they outplayed Pearson High School to record an impressive 4-0 win on Friday night, in Gqeberha.
The highly anticipated clash was deemed the match to watch in the province, and it duly delivered as the sides produced a spectacle at Pearson’s Top AstroTurf.
Heading into the encounter, Collegiate was the favourite and high in confidence after some comfortable victories in recent weeks.
They defeated Union High 9-0 earlier this month and, a week ago, brushed off Makhanda’s Kingswood College, winning 4-0.
Pearson, meanwhile, had suffered a 1-2 loss at the hands of DSG Makhanda, but they bounced back with an emphatic 5-0 win over Hudson Park High School.
The stage was set, and the atmosphere at the ground was electric, with both the home and away stands filled to the rafters.
After a cautious opening chukka, during which the sides tested each other out, trying to get a feel for the game, things took a turn in the second quarter.
Collegiate dominated ball possession and territory, and when they received a short corner with two minutes played, there was a sense that something special was on the cards.
Instead of going for a drag flick, they played a variation, and the ball landed comfortably for Jana Prinsloo on the right-hand side. With a simple touch off her stick, she gave her side the lead.
Collegiate doubled their tally soon after from another penalty corner. This time around, Kerrin Gillies sent the ball flying into the back of the net with a sweet drag flick, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Gillies, who has been in formidable form for coach Michael Abrahams’ team this season, got her second in the third chukka in a similar fashion.
The Eastern Province u18A representative completed her hat-trick in the fourth chukka, again flicking past the Pearson goalie.
The hosts had their chances late in the game, but Collegiate was strong defensively, with Anna Porter and Jade Grobler rock-solid at the back.
They held on for the win and will take confidence into their next clash, a big showdown with DSG Makhanda next weekend.
DSG was, meanwhile, in action, at home on the Webster AstroTurf, where they romped to a 7-0 win over Clarendon High School for Girls. Abigail Holderness led the way with a hattrick, while her sister, Lucy, was also on the score sheet where they were joined by Anna Olivier, Jocelyn Appel, and Ava van der Walt.
Hudson Park, after a rough week, returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Merrifield College, courtesy of strikes by Mackenzie Goss and Hannah Faro.
Kingswood College also won, beating Stirling High 2-1, while Woodridge College downed Victoria Park 2-0, and Kingsridge Girls’ High, from Qonce, edged out Cambridge High 4-3.
RESULTS
Collegiate Girls’ High 4-0 Pearson High
Woodridge College 2-0 Victoria Park
Kingswood College 2-1 Stirling High
Hudson Park 2-0 Merrifield
Kingsridge Girls’ High 4-3 Cambridge High School
DSG Makhanda 7-0 Clarendon
