Kingswood College, the big winners on the first weekend back in action
The resumption of the hockey season after the mid-year break saw a total of 32 goals scored across seven highly contested fixtures in the Eastern Cape this past weekend.
Out of those 32, Kingswood College contributed 14 goals from their two fixtures played on Friday and Saturday respectively.
The Makhanda side started their weekend off with a (4-1) victory against Gqeberha’s Alexander Road High School. That match also saw Jean-Luc Basson get his 50th first team cap for the side.
If dominance was anything to go by on Friday, the side certainly turned up the tempo on Saturday, bringing a whole different ball game to the table.
They took on Framesby away from home and scored an emphatic 10 goals while only conceding two on the day. Another hattrick of players were playing their 50th games for the school on the day. Stephen Aylesbury, Michael Van Staden, and Brad Goss were all given a guard of honour before the match.
Basson, who had received his 50th cap the day before and who has been a goal scoring machine for the side, scored a hattrick on the day. Two separate braces by Stephen Aylesbury, and Chris Painting then allowed Brad Goss, Daniel Phillips, and Peter Van Der Meulen to all add a goal each and reach the final 10 goals.
The win will come as a confidence booster for Jason Machlachlan and his side. Before the school break, they narrowly lost to town rivals St Andrews (1-0) before coming short against Woodridge College (2-1).
However, confidence will be high after scoring 14 goals in two matches. They next face Graeme College, in a mid-week fixture on Wednesday.
In other matches around the province and keeping it in Makhanda, St Andrews thumped Cambridge High (6-0) at home.
Merrifield College pulled off one the upsets of the season when they defeated a travelling Queens College side (1-0).
In East London, Hudson Park came short against Selborne College, losing (3-2) on Friday night, while Stirling High Schools played off to a 0ne-all draw against King Williams Town’s Dale College.
In the last game on Friday night, Grey High School managed a (1-0) win against York High in George.
Scorers:
Kingswood College 10 (Jean-Luc Basson (3), Chris Painting (2), Stephen Aylesbury (2), Brad Goss, Daniel Phillips, Peter van der Meulen); Framesby 2 (scorers not provided).
St Andrews 6 (Mark Ter Morshuizen (2), Sibusiso Mxube, Laurie Apps, Ross Gordon, Jake Coventry); Cambridge 0.
Merrifield College 1 (Trent Pillay); Queens College 0.
Selborne College 3 (Ben van der Merwe, Waeden Plaatjies, Daniel Sirgel); Hudson Park 2: Ayola Rubushe, Helio Ruiters.
Stirling High School 1: Ndalo Manqina. Dale College 1: Sbongisile Nzima.
Grey High School 1: Michael Mollenaar. York High School 0.
Other results:
Kingswood College 4, Alexander Road 1; Pearson High 6, Punt High School 2.
