Opening day of Challengers’ Cup delivers top-quality hockey
Some cracking goals, entertaining matchups and massive upsets, highlighted the opening day of the Challengers’ Cup, in Paarl, on Thursday.
The annual tournament is being hosted by La Rochelle Girls’ High and runs through to Sunday, and the lineup includes some of the strongest teams in the country.
Day one was all about making a positive start and while some did that, others found it tough sledding.
In the opening match of the tournament, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies) demonstrated their class in a 2-0 win over Durban Girls’ College (DGC).
It was an impressive showing from the Pretoria girls, who opened the scoring in the first chukka through a brilliant goal from Mikela Harmse after she had linked up well with Anouk du Plessis.
Late in the fourth chukka, Affies sealed the win, thanks to a goal from Hannah Coetzee, which helped her side claim the first three points of their campaign.
The action rolled on from there, and Hoërskool Outeniqua stunned Paarl Girls’ High 3-2, courtesy of goals by Carlien Oosthuizen, Mia Buxman, and Mieke Lotter.
Herschel Girls School came out on top in a Cape Town rivalry, defeating Springfield Convent School 3-0.
The match of the day, though, belonged to St Mary’s Waverley and Parel Vallei (PV). Led by experienced coaches Cindy Brown (St Mary’s) and Wayne Coetzee (PV), the teams delivered an entertaining clash from the first whistle.
St Mary’s got off to a blistering start and led 1-0 after only three minutes, thanks to a well-taken goal by Tanaka Matambo.
PV responded almost immediately, with Nikita Sulivan netting in the sixth minute. Two minutes later, coach Coetzee’s side made it 2-1 when Eva Blaauw slotted a short corner opportunity.
Three goals had been scored in the space of only five minutes, and the teams were just getting started.
The girls from Johannesburg didn’t back down and, just before the first chukka ended, they levelled matters when Leah Viljoen found herself in space and beat PV’s goalie for her side’s second goal.
The second and third chukkas were evenly matched, with both teams creating goal scoring opportunities but failing to find finishes.
It appeared as if the contest was headed for a draw, but Leah Viljoen had other ideas and converted a late penalty corner, her second goal of the game, to lead St Mary’s to a thrilling win.
In other matches, Leah Buckley‘s goal proved enough for Fairmont High as they edged out Rustenburg Girls’ High 1-0.
Hoërskool Garsfontein delivered a polished performance in the final match of the day to beat St Cyprian’s School 3-0.
It was a Garsies masterclass, and it began as early as the fifth minute when Jana Seebach opened the scoring for the Pretoria League champions.
Daniella Grobbelaar and Elmien du Preez added further goals in the second half to seal the win for coach Charlene Johnson‘s troops.
On Friday, Garsfontein faces St Mary’s and Fairmont High.
The matches, which are being played at La Rochelle and Paarl Girls’ High, start at 11:30 and will be broadcast LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App.
Thursday, 8 August | Results and scorers
Pool A
St Mary’s Waverley 3: (Leah Viljoen 2, Tanaka Matambo). Parel Vallei 2: (Nikita Sulivan, Eva Blaauw).
Fairmont High 1: (Leah Buckley). Rustenburg Girls’ High 0.
Garsfontein 3: (Jana Seebach, Daniella Grobbelaar, Elmien du Preez). St Cyprian’s School 0.
Pool B
Affies 2: (Mikela Harmse, Hannah Coetzee). DGC 0.
Outeniqua 3: (Carlien Oosthuizen, Mia Buxman, Mieke Lotter). Paarl Girls’ High 2: (Anne Nell, Janri Dixon).
Herschel 3: (Anna Sherren, Samantha Flint, Sophie Maurel). Springfield 0.
Friday, 9 August Fixtures
@La Rochelle
11:30 – Garsfontein vs St Mary’s Waverley; 12:30 – St Cyprian’s vs Fairmont; 13:30 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs Parel Vallei; 15:00 – Garsfontein vs Fairmont; 16:00 – Parel Vallei vs St Cyprian’s; 17:00 – Rustenburg Girls’ High vs St Mary’s Waverley.
@Paarl Girls’ High
11:30 – Springfield vs Durban Girls’ College; 12:30 – Outeniqua vs Herschel; 13:30 – Paarl Girls’ High vs Affies; 15:00 – Herschel vs Durban Girls’ College; 16:00 – Outeniqua vs Affies; 17:00 – Paarl Girls’ High vs Springfield.
