By Avuyile Sawula
After suffering a tough 1-3 loss to Grey High School last weekend, St Andrew’s College showed class and played some good hockey to bounce back with a victory on Friday night.
The boys from Makhanda defeated Queen’s College 4-1 in Komani to maintain their historically healthy record against the hosts.
Queen’s College has played an entertaining brand of hockey under coach Michael Baiden this season, and they went into the game high in confidence after beating Hudson Park 4-0 a week ago.
That confidence appeared to be well-founded when the hosts opened the scoring early in the first chukka, but their joy was short-lived, with St Andrew’s firing back minutes later to level matters.
The visitors then asserted themselves, dominating possession and territory while creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Luke Mason, who will represent the Eastern Province U18 side at the SASHOC National Week, scored a hat-trick of goals while Ethan Malan‘s strike sealed the win.
“It’s always tough to compete in Komani. They are very physical and hard running and skilful,” Solomon Casoojee, the St Andrew’s head coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
“They put us under pressure early, but our guys stuck to the plan and trusted themselves, and eventually we built momentum and got into the game.
“We dominated the second and third quarters. They were well on top of us in the final quarter but didn’t take their chances. It was a very close game all around, but we’re happy to get the win.”
While St Andrew’s won in Komani, Selborne turned it up a notch to outplay Dale College 6-1 in Qonce.
The sides met in a rescheduled fixture after Selborne’s derby with Grey College was cancelled. Dale had been supposed to have the weekend off.
Inathi Gxobole netted twice for the visitors, with further goal contributions coming from Mivuyo Lwana, William Schaefer, Reid Drake, and Liam Viviers.
In Thornhill, Grey High continued their brilliant run against Eastern Cape opposition, thumping Woodridge College 9-0 to finish off their term’s fixtures in style.
Logan Meyer, who has featured on the goalscoring charts frequently recently, scored a hat-trick while Dante Elkington found the back of the net twice. Ben Atkinson, Logan Goddard-Ford, Keegan Le Roux, and Michael Gillies stuck, too.
In KuGompo City, Cambridge High delivered a spirited performance to beat Stirling High 2-1, thanks to Imange Velapi and Serano Poovan converting penalty corners.
Hudson Park High, meanwhile, was held to a 1-1 draw by Merrifield College, and York High recorded a comfortable 4-0 win over Hoërskool Punt.
Results
York High 4-0 Punt
Grey High 9-0 Woodridge College
Hudson Park 1-1 Merrifield College
St Andrew’s College 4-1 Queen’s College
Selborne College 6-1 Dale College
Cambridge High 2-1 Stirling High