High-flying Paarl Gim ready for battle at Girls Challenge
The Paarl Gimnasium girls’ first-team hockey side will enter the inaugural Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge in high spirits after recording two resounding victories against Eunice High School and Oranje Meisieskool in Bloemfontein over the past weekend.
The Western Cape girls journeyed to Bloemfontein on a mission to bounce back after their last outing, which they lost 1-2 to Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool.
Two clinical performances by coach Danelle van Zyl’s side silenced the home supporters in Bloemfontein.
On Thursday night, they took on Eunice and scored a 2-0 victory, courtesy of strikes by the experienced Isabella Nel, and youngsters, Imke Koegelenberg.
The visitors returned to action the following day in a Friday Nite Lights clash with Oranje, and it was Gim who opened the scoring in the first chukka from a tap-in at the far post from captain Joné de Winnaar.
Oranje responded with two goals in the third and fourth chukkas before Gim responded to level matters at 2-2.
It seemed that the clash would end in a draw until a late goal by the visitors, with only 30 seconds remaining in the game, sealed the win.
““Our focus on this Bloem tour was to be more clinical and process driven and to connect as a team and enjoy the game that we love so much,” coach Van Zyl told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“Our girls played their hearts out. They ran hard and played together as a team in the Eunice game.
“Against Oranje, I could see their legs were tired, but we showed some real character after being down 1-2 and coming back to win the game 3-2.”
Back in Paarl. Gimmies are gearing up to host the Girls Hockey Challenge, which runs from 1-3 May.
The exciting new tournament will see some of the country’s top sides assemble in Paarl for three days of hard and competitive hockey.
The hosts have been drawn in Pool B along with St Mary’s Waverley, Fairmont High School, and Springfield Convent School.
“We can never be too confident because we have a massive target on our back,” coach Van Zyl said.
“Every game from now on is important, and the main focus is to still improve and to be consistent in our processes.”
Paarl Gim fixtures for Girls Hockey Challenge
Thursday, 1 May
10:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs St Mary’s Waverley
15:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Springfield Convent School
Friday, 2 May
11:00 – Paarl Gimnasium vs Fairmont High School
