Paarl Gim to battle St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, in Girls Challenge semis
Paarl Gimnasium and St Mary’s DSG Kloof have been on a collision course and will finally go head-to-head in the semifinals of the Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge on Saturday.
Both headed into the tournament among the favourites to go all the way, and they proved those sentiments right by sweeping their group matches on their way to the final four.
St Mary’s DSG was the first of the two to book their semi-final slot with a thrilling 1-0 win over Hoërskool Waterkloof in their quarterfinal encounter.
Paarl Gim, the hosts, enjoyed a smoother path, scoring a comfortable 3-0 win over Rustenburg Girls’ High. Their reward is a showdown with St Mary’s DSG at 12:20 on Saturday for a place in the final.
A belligerent Waterkloof side gave the KZN side all they could handle in the quarterfinals, going toe-to-toe with the St Mary’s Waverley Festival champions before succumbing to a dramatic last-second winner.
Waterkloof went into the match with a solid plan on how to repel the St Mary’s attack and it worked well. That was the difference between them conceding a single goal and several, and that disciplined approach kept St Mary’s at bay in the final five minutes of the match after coach Nolwazi Nkabinde‘s charges had set up camp in Waterkloof’s final third.
Despite winning numerous penalty corners, St Mary’s was seemingly unable to find a way through the defensive wall erected by Waterkloof.
Their captain, Nicola Forbes, had been enjoying a good tournament in the middle of the park, but without being able to find the back of the net. However, in what turned out to be the final move of the game, from another penalty corner variation, she received the ball to the left of the castle and fired a shot hard into the backboard to secure a last-gasp victory for her side.
Matters were more straightforward earlier in the day for the KwaZulu-Natalians, who booked their semi-final spot after a 4-2 win over St Stithians College. Jenna-Leigh Freese, who has been prolific in front of goal and is St Mary’s leading scorer at the tournament, banged in a brace, while Georgia Short and Jamie da Silva added a goal each.
In their quarterfinal clash with Rustenburg, Paarl Gim was forced to wait for almost 34 minutes before they broke the deadlock. The hosts have worked well as a unit throughout the tournament, and it took more good teamwork to conjure up their opener.
They attacked Rustenburg down the left flank, then penetrated into the circle, down the baseline, before a pass was laid off for Imke Koegelenberg to slot the ball into the back of the goalbox.
Rustenburg stubbornly resisted, but Paarl Gim doubled their advantage six minutes from time. Once again, they found a path into the circle down the left flank. This time, though, Isabella Nel provided the finish.
The Rustenburg girls were still trying to compose themselves when they conceded a third goal from a penalty corner. Alanda Rademeyer has been in red hot form, and she made the opportunity count from close range.
Earlier in the day, Paarl Gim sauntered to a 4-0 triumph over Fairmont to claim a quarterfinal slot. Rademeyer struck twice in that one, while Minke Botha and Anya Swanepoel scored one each.
A thrilling semi-final between two in-form teams awaits.
RESULTS
Quarterfinals
St Mary’s DSG Kloof 1-0 Waterkloof
Paarl Gim 3-0 Rustenburg
Pearson 3-2 Collegiate
Herschel 3-1 Durban Girls’ College
Last Pool Matches
Pool A
Durban Girls’ College 9-0 Cornwall Hill
Herschel 2-0 Oranje
Pool B
St Mary’s Waverley 1-0 Springfield
Paarl Gim 4-0 Fairmont
Pool C
Pearson 4-1 Somerset College
Waterkloof 4-0 Stellenberg
Pool D
St Cyprian’s 1-1 Reddam Constantia
St Mary’s DSG 4-2 St Stithians
Pool E
Rustenburg 2-0 Durbanville
Collegiate 1-1 Garsfontein
