SuperSport Schools Plus

Kraai dazzles under lights as SACS thumps Paul Roos at the Brewery

By Avuyile Sawula , in Hockey | Featured Hockey | News , at 2024-05-11 Tags: ,

SACS's Litha Kraai charges in between two PRG players during their encounter at the Brewery Astroturf in Cape Town on 10 May 2024. Photo Credits: Ray Chaplin
SACS’s Litha Kraai charges in between two PRG players during their encounter at the Brewery Astroturf in Cape Town on 10 May 2024. Photo Credits: Ray Chaplin

South African College High School (SACS) playmaker Litha Kraai scored an impressive hattrick of goals to lead his side to a resounding and emphatic 6-2 win over Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) at a buzzing Brewery Astroturf in the southern suburbs of Cape Town on Friday night.

Kraai, who has been in superb form for the Cape side this season, scored in the second and fourth chukkas to help his side get back to winning ways.

Rewatch the action on SuperSport Schools

The highly anticipated clash was the second meeting between the teams in less than a week after they clashed in the final of the Hibbert Shield last weekend.

There, PRG came out victorious, winning (6-5) on sudden death penalties after being forced to fight back from a 0-3 deficit in the first half to end regulation time at 3-3.

On the other hand, SACS entered the match on the back of a 1-1 draw against Bishops Diocesan College during the week.

Just like they did in the Hibbert Shield final, coach Sam Holmes‘s team started the brighter, dominating ball possession and asserting themselves.

PRG, however, had the first opportunity to open the scoring when they received a PC eight minutes into the first chukka. Skipper Reuben Sendzul attempted a variation, linking up with Christo Swanepoel, but SACS’s shot-stopper Noah Venter was equal to the test, making his first save of the night.

PRG went on to score late in the chukka, after Joshua Smit picked up a loose ball outside the circle, drove inside, and smashed it into the bottom left corner to put his team 1-0 up after the first quarter of the contest.

SACS were quickly out of the blocks in the second chukka and equalised with a minute played through the energetic Zachary Redfern.

It was blow-for-blow after that, with both teams keeping each other at bay. However, Kraai, after being restricted by PRG’s defence, gave SACS the lead late in the quarter, scoring with seconds left, to edge his side in front at the break.

Both sides were let down by their discipline in the third chukka, with the umpires sending four players to the dugout, with PRG captain Sendzul and Hano Basson being given their marching orders for dissention and a dangerous tackle respectively. Meanwhile, for SACS, it was Reece Theunis and Kraai for similar offences.

The fourth chukka completely changed the complexion of the match.

With both Theunis, and Kraai momentarily still off the park, SACS scored their third through Head Boy and captain, Stephen Meyer, who struck with a drag flick from a PC to extend his side’s lead to 3-1.

Kraai steps up to take a penalty stroke for his team in their clash vs PRG at the Brewery Astroturf on 10 May 2024. Photo credits: Ray Chaplin
Kraai steps up to take a penalty stroke for his team in their clash vs PRG at the Brewery Astroturf on 10 May 2024. Photo credits: Ray Chaplin

Minutes later, it was a Cohen Williams link-up with Kraai that saw the grade 10 pupil score his second after smartly beating PRG’s shot-stopper Beor van Reenen to make it 4-1.

As the chukka went on, the hosts gained further momentum, and right back, Nick Paxton won a penalty stroke for his side after he was fouled by Van Reenen inside the circle.

The ‘keeper was shown his marching orders. Kraai stepped up against Louan van Zyl and completed his hattrick by depositing the ball into the left-hand corner to give his side a handy 5-1 advantage

PRG’s Seth Paterson found a response for the visitors, but Williams had the final say for SACS, making it a half-dozen for the hosts late in the match, to complete an outstanding performance in front of their home supporters.

“I think I and the whole group are relieved,” head coach, Sam Holmes told SuperSport Schools Plus after the encounter.

“We went through a very stressful week, playing against the top schools at the Hibbert Shield, and it didn’t go our way in the final.

“The guys had to rally tonight, and they did.

“But that’s sport, one day you’re crying in the changing room, and the next day you’re the kings of the world, so it’s a good lesson for the boys, and the coaching staff.”

Holmes admitted that a lot of mental work needed to be done after his side let slip a 3-0 lead at the Hibbert Shield final. He said his team needed to play more freely and enjoy the match.

“We did a lot of work in the week regarding mentality and how we disappeared in the final,” he explained. “We concluded that we were terrified of losing from leading 3-0 up.

“We spent the week looking within, transferring the mindset of fear of losing to being out there, enjoying it, and playing for each other.

“We had to outwork them tonight and it’s not easy to outwork a side like PRG, so I’m proud of the guys,” he concluded.

SACS will next turn their attention to a league match when they travel to face Stellenberg High School next weekend.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t get any easier for coach Michael Baker and his team as they prepare for a trip to Paarl to face Paarl Gimnasium.

Scorers

SACS 6 (2): Litha Kraai (x3), Stephen Meyer, Zachary Redfern, Cohen Williams. Paul Roos 2 (1): Joshua Smit, Seth Paterson.

Western Cape Results

Grey College 3-0 Paarl Boys’ High
Wynberg Boys’ High 9-1 Stellenberg High
Rondebosch Boys’ High 2-2 Paarl Gimnasium
SACS 6-2 Paul Roos
Bishops Diocesan College 5-0 Fairmont
DF Malan 4-1 Punt

The images used in the article are credited to Ray Chaplin. For more information about Ray Chaplin, please visit: https://yourphotos.raychaplin.photography/ 

 

Avuyile Sawula
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.