Reddam House Constantia lights up Independent Schools Hockey Festival
The 2025 Independent Schools Hockey Festival is turning out to be a happy hunting ground for underdogs, and day two’s action on Sunday offered up further evidence of that.
The festival, which is being hosted by St Alban’s College, in Pretoria, concludes on Monday.
On Saturday, the opening day, York High, Michaelhouse, Bishops [Diocesan College], St Alban’s, and Reddam House Constantia dominated.
Maintaining consistency was going to be what those teams would be after on day two, and Reddam House met the brief.
Led by coach Alex Gitlin and manager Dale Holmes, the boys from Cape Town defeated Helpmekaar Kollege 6-1 and St Benedicts College 3-2 on Saturday.
They returned to turf action on Sunday and bagged another two victories, defeating St David’s Marist Inanda 1-0 before thumping Trinity House Centurion 6-2.
“Our festival intention was to put into play what we have practiced through the pre-season programme,” coach Gitlin told SuperSport Schools Plus after day two’s play.
“There are always things to develop, create, and tweak, but where we are today is where we should be.”
Gitlin, who is also the Headmaster at Reddam, wants his side to build character on and off the field.
They’ll end their festival schedule with a clash against an unpredictable York side, and the coach said he won’t be making many changes.
“We always enjoy this run, as York is passionate about their hockey, always competes, and always brings sportsmanship.
“On the day, it will be about arriving awake and being keyed into our roles.”
Reddam will be focused on a clean sweep in Pretoria, and they’ll look to key players like Mitchell Welch, Reese Hayes, and skipper Joe Gitlin, who found the back of the net five times on day one, for leadership.
Reddam and York meet at 08:00 at the Pretoria Boys High AstroTurf.
The action will be LIVE on the SuperSport Schools App.
