Johannesburg delivers thrilling hockey as top schools clash
Johannesburg’s top hockey schools delivered an action-packed slate of matches as the city hosted a gripping series of schoolboy hockey clashes on Friday and Saturday.
The local giants, Jeppe High School for Boys and King Edward VII School (KES) welcomed visiting teams from KwaZulu-Natal, Northwood School, and Westville Boys’ High, for a couple of exciting inter-provincial games.
On the Boden AstroTurf, Jeppe staged a thrilling comeback, led by a standout performance from Ethan Kapanda, to edge out Northwood 2–1.
The competition was intense from the opening whistle, and it was Northwood who struck first, netting with less than two minutes to play in the first half from a penalty corner variation.
Jeppe, in typical fashion, staged a robust response and, with Kapanda leading the way, levelled with a sizzling shortie that beat the ‘keeper low and to his right with six minutes remaining in the third chukka.
Early in the fourth chukka, Kapanda went back to the same routine, again finding the back of the goal low and to the goalkeeper’s right, to edge Jeppe ahead.
“It was a hot contest between two well-coached teams,” said Jeppe’s coach, Siya Styana, who praised the quality of the game and gave a nod to Northwood coach Justin Collins. “They were difficult to break down, but our boys showed incredible character.”
It was the latest win for Jeppe in an outstanding season. They had beaten their previous KZN opposition, Westville Boys’ High, 5-2, on 24 April, away from home. Before that, Sityana’s side had turned heads at the King Edward VII School Easter Festival, where they went unbeaten, which was a solid follow-up to their unbeaten run at the Nomads Festival, which was also hosted by KES.
Westville was also in action in Johannesburg on Saturday, playing against the Red Sticks, and they came away with a 3-2 win, thanks to a hattrick from their captain, Seth Simpson.
Another team enjoying an excellent season, St Stithians, kicked off the weekend with a Friday night flaying of St David’s Marist Inanda. They dominated possession and frequently turned that advantage into goals, romping to an 8-0 victory.
RESULTS
Jeppe 4-1 Northwood
St Stithians 8-0 St David’s
KES 2-3 Westville Boys’ High
