SACS finish the season with an emphatic win over Wynberg
CAPE TOWN.- A hat-trick of goals by Rowan Davis, coupled with a double brace from Mike Royden Turner, and captain, Dean Carrick secured a resounding (11-1) victory for the South Africa College Schools (SACS) against Wynberg Boys High in their final match of the season in Cape Town this past weekend.
The win sees SACS finish the season ranked number one in the country.
Coming into the match, SACS were undoubtedly the favourites having bossed proceedings throughout the season, and defeated every team, particularly in the Western Cape.
Their last match at home, resulted in a (3-2) win against Bishops, and before that, the Cape side thumped Rondebosch (15-0), and Paul Roos (8-1).
Wynberg on the other side were looking to try end a very challenging season on a high. The team came into the clash having lost their previous three matches against Rondebosch (2-0), Bishops (1-0), and Paul Roos Gimnasium (5-0).
However, that optimism, hope, and belief for the home side was brushed off immediately when SACS quickly took control of the match, just as they’ve done in all their matches this season.
The visitors opened the scoring in the first three minutes of the match, when Mike Royden found himself at the right place to fire the ball in.
SACS would then go on to score two more goals in the first quarter through Rowan Davis, who scored a field goal from the break when his side recovered the ball from their half – before Ozair Pillai slotted in a penalty corner with a minute left on the clock to extend his side’s lead going into the second quarter.
With drops of rain coming down in the second quarter, it was always going to be difficult for Wynberg to keep up with SACS’s fast play and movement of the ball, and that showed in the second chukka.
Despite the home side keeping SACS scoreless for the better part of the chukka, the visitors still dominated proceedings, keeping ball possession, and playing in the opposition’s half.
They finally cracked the resilient Wynberg defence with three minutes to play when Rowan Davis, smacked the ball with his stick from close range leaving the Wynberg keeper with no chance. The visitors led (4-0) at the halfway point.
The final two quarters of the match had SACS written all over them. To kick-off the third chukka, the home side received a penalty shot. Captain, Dean Carrick stepped up and converted to keep the scoreboard ticking for his side.
Carrick would go on to grab his brace, scoring from a penalty corner just after Luke Salters, and Rowan Davis also netted in goals to see SACS take an (8-0) lead into the fourth and final quarter.
The final quarter was all about seeing the match through for SACS. Even though it was no doubt that Pierre Le Roux’s team had secured the victory, the team didn’t get complacent and added to their tally with just 15 seconds played in the final quarter through Davis – who got his hattrick.
Wynberg continued to struggle, and SACS on the other side capitalised. Josh Opperman got in on the action when he scored from a rebound to make it 10.
With nine minutes left in the final quarter, Wynberg pulled one back when a cross found Tristan Butters open on goal, and he duly converted. That, however, was just a consolation goal as SACS hammered the final nail in the coffin with a goal from Mike Royden Turner to record an emphatic (11-1) win for the visitors.
In other matches:
Rondebosch and Bishops played out to a one-all draw in the Bish Bosh derby. While Durbanville edged out Stellenberg (4-2) to close off their season on a high. Edgemead also defeated Fairbairn to put an end to their season.
Scorers:
SACS 11 (Rowan Davis (4), Mike Royden-Turner (2), Dean Carrick (2), Luke Salters, Josh Opperman, Ozair Pillai); Wynberg Boys’ High 1 (Tristan Butters).
Other results:
Rondebosch Boys’ High 1, Bishops 1; Durbanville 4, Stellenberg 2; Edgemead 4, Fairbairn 2.
