Selborne sneaks past St Andrew’s, Dale and Pearson record wins
Selborne College bagged another big Eastern Cape scalp by beating St Andrew’s College 3-2 in a tightly contested Edgars Friday Nite Lights clash in KuGompo City on Friday.
Selborne, playing in front of their home supporters, demonstrated fierce determination to down a well-structured and well-coached St Andrew’s team.
Both outfits headed into the match brimming with confidence after claiming wins last weekend. Selborne had beaten Dale College 6-1 in Komani, while St Andrew’s scored a 4-1 victory over Queen’s College in Qonce.
On Friday night, the hosts made a bright start and opened the scoring in the first chukka through Adam De Lange.
St Andrew’s, up until that point, had enjoyed a fair share of ball possession and territory, but they couldn’t break down Selborne, thanks to the prolific goalkeeping of Brad Collins.
Selborne looked dangerous on the counterattack, and they made it 2-0 when the half-centurion pairing of Saneze Kweba and Inathi Gxobole linked up for a stupendous team goal.
The visitors kept working hard and pulled a goal back in the second chukka after a well-executed PC variation to trail by one at the break.
In the third quarter, St Andrew’s continued to show serious intent, playing with conviction and flair, with Luke Mason, Trent Oliver, and Rourke MacNamara leading the way. They were rewarded with another goal, which levelled the contest at 2-2.
Selborne, however, grabbed the win in the fourth chukka. Kweba, after picking up the ball deep inside his half, charged forward and stormed into the St Andrew’s circle before finding Mivuyo Lwana, who made it 3-2.
St Andrew’s created ample chances to clinch a draw, but Collins, in the Selborne goal, wasn’t having it and pulled off some great saves to win it for coach KJ Friend‘s side.
The win means Selborne has now claimed the scalps of St Andrew’s, Dale, and Queen’s. They will play their final fixture of the term next week against Stirling High.
At the Buco Astro Turf in Bunkers Hill, Dale College got back to winning ways, edging out Hudson Park High 2-1.
Dale, under the tutelage of coach Andrew Senekal, has endured a topsy-turvy season while exposing some younger players to first-team hockey.
The win against Hudson, courtesy of goals by Sihlaziye Maliti and Likhona Mntyamde, will serve as a good confidence boost to the side moving forward.
In Gqeberha, Pearson High School ended their term’s fixtures on a high note by scoring a 4-1 home victory over the visiting Woodridge College.
Pearson was dominant from the opening whistle and dictated play throughout.
They scored through Aenry Biggs, Tao Kudyachete, Callum Armstrong, and Petri Reynold, while their goalkeeper, Chulumanco Mkontwana, was called into action several times but had the answer to all but one of Woodridge’s attempts on goal.
On Saturday morning, Stirling High bounced back from their 1-2 loss against Cambridge High in style, romping to a 6-0 victory over Graeme College 6-0 in Makhanda.
Skylar Ganda slotted a hat-trick of goals for the KuGompo City side, while Unakho Guwa, Jarren Marillier, and Luniko Mzomba also scored.
Results
Dale College 2-1 Hudson Park
Pearson High 4-1 Woodridge College
Selborne College 3-2 St Andrew’s College
Stirling High 6-0 Graeme College
Kingswood College 8-1 Westering
