KZN Coastal A continues unbeaten run at Indoor IPT
KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A maintained their unbeaten run at the SASHOC u18 Girls’ Indoor Hockey IPT, on Wednesday, at Thomas More College, with a win and a draw on the second day of the competition.
Coastals A had two assignments: a morning date with Northerns and an afternoon appointment with Southern Gauteng. The Eloise Walters-coached side routed Northerns and were on course for a win over Southerns in an enthralling fixture before Southerns levelled only six seconds from the end of the contest.
At day’s end, KZN Coastal A topped the standings, with 10 points, while Southerns were in second place, with eight points.
Coastals’ captain, Nicola Forbes, led the way against Northerns with a brace in their 5-1 victory. Jenna-Leigh Freese, Jamie da Silva, and Xaba Nonkosi added the other three goals, while Brigit Arndt saved Northerns the blushes with a smartly executed consolation goal.
The clash between Coastal A and Southern Gauteng in the afternoon was the most anticipated contest of the day, and it didn’t disappoint. After falling behind early to an Amber Fairon strike, Forbes replied for Coastals 11 minutes later before Gabi Howarth netted twice in quick succession to put the home side 3-1 ahead before the half-hour mark.
They appeared on course for victory, but Fairon struck twice more for Southerns, including the last-gasp equaliser to force a 3-3 draw.
That result meant that both KZN Coastal A and Southerns retained their unbeaten records – the only teams in the competition with that achievement after two days of action.
Southerns won both of their matches on day one. Their draw with Coastals A was their second of the day after they were held to a 4-4 draw by KZN Coastal B in their earlier game.
Fairon, who was on fire, registered a hat-trick, and Nicole Chikweshe added the fourth Southerns’ goal. Anna Angelopoulos, the Coastals B captain, scored twice, while Jennifer Egolum and Alulutho Sikhosana added the other two.
Coastals B also recorded their second win of the tournament with a 4-1 triumph over KZN Inland B. Mackenzy Layden scored twice, while Angelopoulos and Alwande Dladla contributed the other two. Anna Schulze found the back of the net for Inland B.
KZN Inland A, who suffered two losses on day one, got on track with back-to-back wins over Inland B and Northerns.
Emma Williams, Annabelle Balmer, and Kate van Breda scored for Inland A in their 3-0 win over Inland B. Then, Jemma van der Byl and Mia Howie were on target in their 2-1 win over Northerns. Thatho Dimpe scored for the ladies from the highveld.
Three pool matches remain before the sides head for the semifinals. Southerns crosses swords with Inland B at 08:00, then Northerns faces a highly motivated Coastals B side. KZN Coastal A winds up the round robin stage with a match against their KZN rivals, Inland A.
RESULTS
U18
Southern Gauteng 4 (Amber Fairon 3, Nicole Chikweshe). KZN Coastal B 4 (Anna Angelopoulos 2, Jennifer Egolum, Alulutho Sikhosana).
KZN Coastal A 5 (Nicola Forbes 2, Jenna-Leigh Freese, Jamie da Silva, Nonkosi Xaba). Northerns 1 (Brigit Arndt).
KZN Inland A 3 (Emma Williams, Annabelle Balmer, Kate van Breda). KZN Inland B 0.
KZN Coastal A 3 (Gabi Howarth 2, Nicola Forbes). Southern Gauteng 3 (Amber Fairon 3).
KZN Coastal B 4 (Mackenzy Layden 2, Anna Angelopoulos, Alwande Dladla). KZN Inland B 1 (Anna Schulze).
KZN Inland A 2 (Jemma van der Byl, Mia Howie). Northerns 1 (Thato Dimpe).
U16
KZN Coastal A 1 (Charley-Rose Boyall). KZN Inland B 0.
KZN Coastal B 2 (Emmerson van Zijl 2). Northerns B 2 (Dané van den Berg, Diana Diener).
KZN Inland A 1 (Taslyn van Wyk). Northerns A 1 (Lenique Vogel).
Northerns A 5 (Lenique Vogel 2, Daniella Grobbelaar 2, Eliane Haycock). Northerns B 0.
KZN Coastal A 3 (Emily Simpkins 3). KZN Coastal B 3 (Bella Roberts 2, Isabella Momoh).
Southern Gauteng A 3 (Lebogang Ngobese, Lucy Wells, Nina Els). KZN Inland B 1 (Olivia Balmer).
U14
KZN Coastal A 9 (Jessica Savage 4, Casia Huntley 2, Lilitha Mbokodi, Shriya Nadrajah, Peighton Short). KZN Inland B 0.
KZN Coastal B 2 (Chloe Reeves, Errin Pretorius). Northerns B 2 (Kayla Kotze 2).
KZN Inland A 0. Southern Gauteng 0.
KZN Coastal A 4 (Olivia Barrett 2, Lilitha Mbokodi, Jessica Savage). KZN Coastal B 0.
Northerns A 6 (Liesel de Witt 2, Sarah Gouws 2, Kari Dreyer, Anri Haycock). KZN Inland B 0.
Southern Gauteng 2 (Madison Utermohlen 2). Northerns B 1 (Maine Campher).
