Star-studded Western Province aims for back-to-back titles in Bloemfontein
The Western Province u18A boys’ team has set its sights on retaining the SASHOC National Week title they won in 2023. The highly anticipated 2024 tournament takes place in Bloemfontein next month.
The event will be hosted at five different venues: the University of Free State, St Andrew’s School, St Michael’s School for Girls, Grey College and Eunice High School. The action kicks off on 16 June, with the final scheduled for 21 June.
In their mission to do the double, Province will be led by coach Bryce West, who has selected a star-studded squad to do battle against the best that rest of South Africa has to offer.
In last year’s campaign, West‘s team entered the tournament as the favourites. They were all but impossible to contain and they dominated their opponents from the outset.
They impressed during the pool stages, beating, among others, Amathole 3-0, Western Province B 7-1, and Southern Free State 4-0. In the semi-finals, they ran out 4-2 winners over Boland
They came up against a solid Southern Gauteng side, led by Jaydon Brooker, in the final, but once again dictated matters to secure a 3-1 victory. Dean Carrick netted twice for Western Province before Nathan Msakiwe sealed the win.
With that result, Province ended the week as the only unbeaten side in the A-Section.
The 2024 version of Western Province bears little resemblance to the 2023 squad. Only four of the 16 players selected were in last year’s winning outfit. The bulk of the side played in Province’s title-winning u16 side.
The four returning players are Joshua Mettler and James Grieve, of Bishops Diocesan College, and Wynberg Boys’ High‘s Ethan Lee, and Dayle Gertson.
All four players have been key players for their teams this season. Mettler and Grieve, under the guidance of coach Ryan Julius, have been forces to be reckoned with.
They’ve helped their side to crucial wins over Wynberg and Paarl Boys’ High, and a 1-1 draw against SACS earlier this month.
Gertson, and Lee, on the other hand, have been at the forefront of Wynberg’s challenge. All four players represented the SA u17 team at the Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia in November 2023.
Joining them in the Western Province u18A squad this year is a large contingent of players from SACS, which has made a strong case that it is the top hockey school in South Africa at present.
SACS has eight representatives in the team, namely goalkeeper Noah Venter, Joshua le Roux, Cohen Williams, Nick Paxton, Aiden Hughes, Stéphan Meyer, and the influential duo of Reece Theunis and Litha Kraai.
While many will be looking to Kraai and Theunis to lead the way, the group from SACS is loaded with quality from top to bottom.
Last year, Le Roux, Hughes, Theunis, and Kraai were included in the SA u16A squad.
Bishops’ Mettler and Grieve are joined in the provincial lineup by their school’s hockey captain, Robert Veldtman.
Veldtman is a strong performer under pressure. His calmness and composure will be valuable attributes as Province goes in search of another title.
For Wynberg Boys High, it’s Lee, Jordan Paulsen, Dayle Gertson, and Zachary Gibbon who will don the blue and white of their province.
Reddam House Constantia’s Joe Gitlin completes the squad.
Western Province scored 27 goals during last year’s tournament. With another supremely talented lineup, they’ll be eager to surpass that total and to emulate the 2023 team by winning the SASHOC National Week title.
Western Province u18A Team:
Noah Venter (SACS), Joshua le Roux (SACS), Reece Theunis (SACS), Robert Veldtman (Bishops), Jordan Paulsen (Wynberg), Dayle Gertson(Wynberg), Joshua Mettler (Bishops), James Grieve (Bishops), Cohen Williams (SACS), Ethan Lee (Wynberg), Litha Kraai (SACS), Nick Paxton (SACS), Aiden Hughes (SACS), Stéphan Meyer (SACS), Joe Gitlin (Reddam House Constantia), Zachary Gibbon (Wynberg).
Pool fixtures:
Sunday, 16 June 2024:
11:20- Western Province A vs Southern Gauteng B
Monday, 17 June 2024:
14:25- Border A vs Western Province A
Tuesday, 18 June 2024:
09:55- Western Province A vs Boland A
15:33- Western Province A vs KZN Coastal B
Wednesday 19 June 2024:
11:35- Western Province A vs Western Province B
