The ‘B’ teams make their mark on day three of the SASHOC National Week
There is a common perception of ‘B’ teams when it comes to the SASHOC National Week. They’re not first-choice lineups and, thus, often regarded as stepping stones for A-teams to secure “easy wins” and three points.
That’s not the case at the SASHOC National Week, which is on the go at Maritzburg College, in Pietermaritzburg, and St Anne’s DSG, in Hilton.
On Tuesday, the Western Province u18B boys, competing in Pool B, stunned KZN Coastal A, usually a title-contending team, 2-1, courtesy of goals by Jacques van Dyk and Ryan Groenewald.
That win for coach Gary Stevens and his charges sent shockwaves through the Pool and opened up paths for other sides to potentially stake a claim to a semifinal place.
With Province B showing how to do it, other B-sides felt inspired, and, on Wednesday, Boland B produced another stunning result, defeating KZN Inland A 3-2 on Pape’s Astro.
The Boland B team entered the clash on the back of a 2-1 win over KZN Coastal B, while Inland A had suffered a tight 0-2 loss at the hands of Southern Gauteng A on Tuesday.
Inland was favoured, but Boland B seemed to have an answer for almost every question coach Damian Kimfley’s boys asked.
After a tight first chukka, the Western Cape side opened the scoring in the second quarter through Johen Pietersen.
Inland responded and drew level through a thunderbolt drag flick by skipper Dane Jackson. At the break, it was 1-1.
The second half belonged to Noah Hendricks. The Hoërskool Swartland pupil shone and stole the spotlight with a brace.
Jackson, once again, pulled one back for the home side, but it proved to be too little too late. Boland, to their credit, also played the final chukka without a goalkeeper after Joe van Coller left the field with an injury.
Inland, without a goalkeeper in sight, still couldn’t score, and the match ended in favour of the Western Cape outfit.
The action intensified after that clash, and KZN Coastal B, who were yet to register a win, came up against Eastern Province A.
EP suffered a hefty 1-8 loss to Western Province A on day two, so they were aiming to redeem themselves.
However, those plans were quickly thrown out the window as the Coastal side brought the heat while putting on a show for their supporters.
They scored quick, fiery goals in the first half through Bo Mokoena, Ethan Schilz, and Tye Milne.
EP was rocked. They need to respond, somehow. When Keegan Le Roux provided the answer from a short corner, they suddenly had hope.
Seth Groener, then, netted a field goal in the 41st minute to drag his team to within a goal, but that proved to be the final goal of the game as KZN Coastal B held on for a 3-2 win.
While the B-teams in Pool A made their mark at Maritzburg College, Western Province B was in action at St Anne’s DSG’s lower AstroTurf.
Pens, as they’re affectionately known, took on Southern Free State A and were brimming with confidence after beating KZN Coastal A the night before.
The boys from the Western Cape were clinical and solid defensively, but most importantly, they used their opportunities and punished Free State.
Captain Charlie Naylor opened the scoring for his side in the 26th minute, and four minutes later, Litha Mbiko netted a field goal to make it 2-0.
In the 36th minute, Cameron Groves fired home a PC to make it three, which sealed an impressive victory over the Grey College-laden outfit.
Boland B and KZN Coastal B were in action again later in the day, against Southern Gauteng A and Western Province A, respectively.
Boland, again, played without a keeper after Van Coller was ruled out. They fought hard against a star-studded Gauteng side but being without a netminder cost them dearly, and they succumbed to a 1-8 loss.
KZN Coastal B, meanwhile, went down 2-10 against the free-scoring Western Province A side.
While the two B-teams ended day three with losses, they will be proud of their efforts and how they showed up against the so-called “stronger teams”.
Day 3 | Results and scorers
Pool A
Boland B 3: Noah Hendricks (2), Johen Pietersen. KZN Inland A 2: Dane Jackson (2).
Western Province A 5: Litha Kraai (3), Daniel Fisher, Joe Gitlin. Southern Gauteng A 1: Zeyad Davids.
KZN Coastal B 3: Bo Mokoena, Ethan Schilz, Tye Milne. Eastern Province A 2: Keegan Le Roux, Seth Groener.
Southern Gauteng A 8: Zeyad Davids (3), Jared Bailings (2). Ezray Stadt, Khanyisa Kraai, Aiden Blatch. Boland B 1: Noah Hendricks.
Western Province A 10: Jo le Roux (4), Zachary Gibbon (2), Reece Theunis, Daniel Fisher, Aiden Topper, Aidan Hughes. KZN Coastal B 1: Ethan Schilz, Murray Wicks.
Pool B
Western Province B 3: Cameron Groves, Litha Mbiko, Charlie Naylor. Southern Free State 0.
Northern Gauteng A 2: Luken Brunette, Andrea Clerihew. Southern Gauteng B 1: Jordache Arnold
KZN Coastal A 4: Sitshaba Siyoyo, Zach Williamson, Joshua Mungherera, Christopher Abrahams. Boland A 3: Christo Swanepoel (2), Callum van Oudtshoorn.
