Eldoraigne’s hockey teams get the better of HTS Middelburg
Alissa Venter and Lianri Langeveldt were on target in a 2-0 win for Hoërskool Eldoraigne‘s girls over HTS Middelburg girls in a league match at the Eldo Astro on Saturday.
Later in the day, Daniel Beneke performed superbly in goal to help the Eldoraigne boys’ team to a 3-1 win over HTS Middelburg in a penalty shootout.
The Eldoraigne girls headed into the contest eager to redeem themselves after a narrow 2-3 loss to HTS Middelburg’s neighbours, Middelburg High, in a Puk Series tie the previous week.
“We went into the match expecting another physical game. However, our focus for the week was on getting our set piece right, specifically penalty corner defence, and then going in with a positive mindset, knowing that if we continue to work hard as a group, we will be rewarded,” Chadwin Petersen, the Eldoraigne coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.
His charges have been guilty of starting slowly at times, which has led to them chasing the game. Against Middies, they ran onto the field with purpose and asserted themselves. This was no slow start.
Mia McArdle came close to putting Eldoraigne in front in the first few minutes of the opening chukka, but a fine save denied McArdle’s attempt.
Eldoraigne’s pressure was intense, though, and the visitors succumbed to it in the sixth minute when Alissa Venter fired in a brilliant strike after a smooth build-up by the hosts.
Although Eldos continued to pressure the visitors, they were forced to wait until the final quarter to score again. This time, Lianri Langeveldt struck.
The home side’s boys’ team then gave the home crowd plenty to cheer when they registered a 3-1 penalty shootout win over HTS Middelburg after the sides finished regulation time deadlocked at 1-1.
Unlike in the girls’ game, it was HTS Middelburg who made a strong start, and their forays into the Eldoraigne circle earned them an early penalty stroke, which they duly converted.
Eldoraigne responded well, launching attacks at an unyielding HTS Middelburg defence. Eventually, their efforts were rewarded in the final chukka when Ayden Brits levelled the scores by converting a penalty corner. Then, it was onto the penalty shootout.
The hosts took the first penalty, but were unable to convert it. HTS Middelburg scored from their opportunity to take a 1-0 lead.
Eldos replied with three penalty successes on the trot, while Daniel Beneke, the Eldoraigne goalkeeper, was unbending, and the victory belonged to the home side.
Results
Girls
Eldoraigne 2-0 HTS Middelburg
Boys
Eldoraigne (3) 1-1 (1) HTS Middelburg
