Top sides score big on day one of u16 SASHOC National Week
The defending champions, Western Province A, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A, and Eastern Province A registered big wins on the first day of the u16 SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein on Friday. The event runs through to 3 July.
Province’s title defence got off to a smooth start as they chalked up two wins on the first day.
Louise Conradie‘s charges shrugged off a challenge from KwaZulu Natal Inland A, capturing a 3-0 victory. Camryn Corner found the back of the net in the second and third chukkas before Kate Naiker buried the KZN side with a third goal with five minutes remaining in the game.
Province’s victory over Inland A was a precursor for a dominant performance in the afternoon, which brought them a 5-0 win over KwaZulu-Natal Coastal B. Naiker opened the scoring in the sixth minute, with her second goal of the tournament. From there, it was all Province, with Bea van den Berg netting twice, and Sarah Ashbolt and Chelsey McGregor joining her on the score sheet.
The beating KZN Coastals B received at the hands of Province was their second drubbing of the day. Shannon Demsey’s charges suffered a heavier defeat in the morning at the hands of their compatriots, KwaZulu-Natal Coastal A.
KZN Coastal A finished fifth in 2023, but their opening salvo on Friday suggested they will be in for a higher finish this time around, with plenty of goals to boot.
Last year, they scored 16 goals, which was the fifth-highest tally by any team, with five of those coming off the stick of Nicola Forbes, who was a member of the u18 team that finished third last week.
Asanele Zuma appears to be a worthy successor to Forbes. The 14-year-old Durban Girls’ College learner was on target four times on day one. She opened her account with a brilliant hat-trick against KZN Coastal B as the Coastal A side powered their way to an emphatic 6-0 win over their compatriots. The other goal scorers included Chelsey Woolf, who struck twice, and Liyanda Memani.
Later in the day, Zuma scored the only goal of the match as Coastal A edged out Northern Blues A 1-0.
Western Province A and KZN Coastal are top of the pile in Pool A, with both on six points, but separated by goal difference.
Eastern Province A were the other big winners on Friday. Coach Andrew Beynon‘s charges hammered Border 8-1 in the fourth contest of the day.
They opened the scoring 11 minutes into the tie and did not stop. Jana Prinsloo struck four times, while Kerrin Gillies contributed a hat-trick. Alecia Louw added another goal as EP A romped to victory.
Border’s consolation goal came from Megan Phillips in the 41st minute. They were already 0-5 down when she found the back of the net. That emphatic win has left Eastern Province A top of Pool B after the opening day
RESULTS
Northern Blues A 1-3 Southern Free State A
KZN Coastal A 6-0 KZN Coastal B
KZN Inland A 0-3Western Province A
Border 1-8 Eastern Province A
Southern Gauteng B 0-4 Southern Gauteng A
Boland B 0-5 Boland A
KZN Coastal A 1-0 Northern Blues A
Western Province A 5-0 KZN Coastal B
