Selborne edges out Queen’s, St Andrew’s and York continue to impress
Selborne College survived a late onslaught by their rivals, Queen’s College, to secure a hard-fought and gritty 3-2 win in KuGompo City in a Friday Nite Lights clash.
The hosts, who were defending their good record on home turf this season, had some lapses of concentration in the second half, which allowed Queen’s back in the game.
Both teams entered the game slightly rusty after their matches were cancelled due to bad weather last week.
Selborne had been scheduled to play Dale College in Qonce, while Queen’s was meant to travel to Gqeberha and face Grey High School on the Gqeberha school’s Reunion weekend.
The lack of game time, however, wasn’t a determining factor in the game, which Selborne started like a house on fire.
Coach KJ Friend‘s side controlled the tempo in the early exchanges and opened the scoring late in the first chukka when Reid Drake converted a penalty stroke.
Queen’s College came alive in the second half and looked more dangerous in attack, but they were unable to convert their goal-scoring chances.
With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, they were punished by Drake, who scored from a penalty corner to make it 2-0 in his 50th appearance for the black and white.
Drake completed his hat-trick early in the fourth chukka through another PC. His third, though, spurred a Queen’s fightback.
The boys from Komani pulled a goal back after a smart variation inside the circle, with Asisipho Vena providing the finish.
Minutes later, Leighton Prince found himself in space and converted a rebound off a short corner to make it 3-2.
Selborne was under the pump in the closing three minutes, and it took an acrobatic save by goalkeeper Brad Collins to keep them in front. They held firm, though, and recorded a battling win over their noisy provincial rivals.
St Andrew’s College, meanwhile, produced two impressive performances to beat Cambridge High 7-0 and Reddam House Constantia 5-2, respectively.
Against Cambridge, Luke Mason scored a hat-trick while Greg Rodwell, Rourke Macnamara, Liam Painter, and Leungo Nondumo contributed the other goals.
On Saturday, they took on Reddam House and defeated the Cape Town side, thanks to braces from Likho Khayula and Mason, which were supplemented by another goal from Rodwell.
In Qonce, Stirling High School outplayed Dale College 4-0. Josh Williams scored a brace before Skylar Ganda, and Jaren Marillier sealed the win for the visitors.
York High School was also victorious, bagging a 5-1 win over Woodridge College away from home.
Coach Jason Slater‘s charges have been impressive this season. Dom Joshua struck twice for the boys from George, while Layton Dafel, Christiano Veldkornet, and Kyle Strydom also netted.
In Gqeberha, Pearson played to a 1-1 draw with Reddam House, while Hudson Park High and Graeme College shared the spoils in Makhanda.
RESULTS
Stirling High 4-0 Dale College
York High 5-1 Woodridge College
Selborne 3-2 Queen’s College
St Andrew’s College 7-0 Cambridge High
Pearson 1-1 Reddam House Constantia
Graeme College 0-0 Hudson Park
St Andrew’s College 5-2 Reddam House Constantia
