Collegiate vs DSG Makhanda: The battle of the Eastern Cape’s best
The debate over which girls’ team is the best in the Eastern Cape will come to an end this weekend when Collegiate Girls’ High takes on DSG Makhanda, in Gqeberha, on Saturday morning.
The highly anticipated derby between the rivals is scheduled for 09:55 and will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Schools App.
There is everything to play for with both teams currently unbeaten in the Eastern Cape after enjoying a fantastic couple of months on the turf.
DSG will make the short trip from Makhanda buoyed after powering to an impressive 7-0 victory over Clarendon High School for Girls last weekend.
In that clash, captain Abigail Holderness, who recently made her 100th appearance for the school, scored a hat-trick. She was joined on the scoresheet by her sister, Lucy, Anna Olivier, Jocelyn Appel and Ava van der Walt.
Before the Clarendon thumping, DSG outplayed Hudson Park 7-1, Queenstown Girls’ High 5-2, and Pearson High 2-1.
Like their rivals, Collegiate is on a healthy winning streak. Last week, they faced arguably their toughest challenge against Pearson High in a massive Gqeberha derby away from home and they aced the test.
Their Friday night clash had it all, and it was Collegiate who came out on top, winning 4-0 courtesy of a Kerrin Gillies hat-trick and a Jana Prinsloo strike.
They also put together an impeccable run before beating Pearson, cruising to a 4-0 win over Kingswood College and a 9-0 shellacking of Union High.
Both sides are playing confident hockey, and they’ll fancy their chances to get the job done in a high-stakes encounter.
It will come down to fine margins. Opportunities will need to be taken, and accuracy will be paramount in the circle.
Defensively, the sides will be wary of conceding penalty corners. Both have scored plenty of goals from the set piece.
In big games, it is always important that key players impose themselves.
For Collegiate, Anna Porter, Kate Brennan, and Jenna Coetzee will lead their team’s challenge at the back.
Jade Grobler and Jana Prinsloo will aim to boss the midfield, while Kerrin Gillies, who is having a season to savour, will surely cause problems for the visitors, especially at PC time.
DSG, on the other hand, will undoubtedly look to their skipper, Abigail Holderness, to produce the goods alongside her sister, Lucy.
Anna Olivier has been in superb form all season long and is one of the unsung heroes in the team. Others, including Jocelyn Appel and Ava van der Walt, will also have key contributions to make.
Other matches
On Saturday morning, at 11:00, Woodridge College welcomes Outeniqua to Thornhill for a derby.
There will also be a massive interschools clash between Framesby and Pearson High. In East London, Stirling High hosts Cambridge High, while Hudson Park takes on Queenstown Girls’ High.
EASTERN CAPE GIRLS’ FIXTURES
Saturday, 31 May
09:55 – Collegiate Girls’ High vs DSG Makhanda
11:00 – Woodridge College vs Outeniqua
11:15 – Framesby vs Pearson High
11:30 – Stirling High School vs Cambridge High
12:00 – Hudson Park High vs Queenstown Girls’ High
