Positive weekend for George hockey sides

Gallery

HOCKEY NEWS - It was a largely positive weekend for the hockey sides from George in round four of the 2023 Eden Senior Hockey League last week.

Crusaders won two out of two, George drew one and lost one, while York drew one and won one.

The fourth and latest round of the 2023 season was played on Saturday 27 May, with matches played at each of the three venues that are used in the league - Oakhill Sports Campus (Crusaders vs Wanderers), Knysna High School (Plett vs George) and York High School (York vs Old Oaks).

The day's games presented chances for both Crusaders sides to extend their lead at the top of the log, while others could only hope to stay within touching distance of Crusaders.

Crusaders vs Wanderers

Crusaders took on Wanderers at the OSC, and the men's game was up first. A goal fest ensued, with Crusaders raking in the bulk of the 12 goals scored – there were exactly three goals scored per quarter.

Crusaders emerged 10-2 victors, and their goals were scored by Sean Slater, Alain du Plessis, Robbie Corcker (all three scored twice), Keane Griever, Reuben Hamman, Kirk Mendoza, and Evo van Rooyen. Wanderers' goals were scored by Malcolm Quirk and Marc van Staden.

The ladies game followed a similar trend, albeit not with as heavy a defeat for Wanderers. After a slow start the Crusaders ladies found their gear and managed to run out 4-0 victors. Their goals were scored by Miré de Waal, Aimee Cronje and Jade Viljoen (two).

Plett vs George

At Knysna High School, Plett and George faced off. There it was a case of ladies first, and it was the ideal start to the weekend for Plett in another goal fest, despite a goalless first quarter.

Five goals came in the second quarter as Plett took a 4-1 lead, before eventually running out 5-2 winners. Caryn Botes and Janine Wasserman scored George's goals, while Kate Maclean, Tanya Pretorius, Taryn Saunders (two), and Nicole Painter all scored for Plett.

The men's game was a more dull, evenly contested affair as Plett couldn't carry on their form from the week before when they beat NMU George.

PHOTO GALLERY: 2023 Eden Senior Hockey League

Denny Busse scored an early goal for George, and they held onto that tight 1-0 lead until the last 10 minutes of the game. Brad Macnamara was the man to draw things level for Plett, salvaging his side with a 1-1 draw.

York vs Old Oaks

Over in George, at York High School, it was again ladies first between Old Oaks and York. Revelling in playing on their home turf, York took the lead through a first-quarter goal to hold a 1-0 advantage over Old Oaks.

The ladies from Knysna battled back in the second quarter though and equalised through Ruby Zimmerman to set the score at 1-1 at half time. Neither side could capitalise on further chances, and the result remained a 1-1 draw.

It was another tight encounter in the men's game, but this time started in favour of the visitors as goals from Jacques Potgieter and James Chauncey saw Old Oaks take a 2-0 lead in the first quarter.

The York boys didn't go down without a fight though and rallied back to a 2-2, courtesy of goals from Ethan Raubenheimer and Liphe Mpambani, before Nel Visagie completed the perfect comeback to take York 3-2 ahead after the third quarter.

Old Oaks couldn't find an equaliser in the last quarter though, and matters finished at 3-2 in York's favour.

The ball sneaks in at the near post, past Old Oaks goalkeeper Mandi Phantsi, for York's first goal.