The Irish defence was superb throughout the match, meaning that despite numerous opportunities, the home side simply couldn’t get the ball in the goal.
Ireland scored when a defensive error from Rhett Halkett right in front of goal led to an easy opportunity for Matthew Nelson to slot one in for the visitors with just under six minutes to go in the first quarter.
There was more pressure from the Irish at the start of the second quarter. A great save from SA keeper Rassie Pieterse, who got out quickly to close the angle, prevented another goal for Ireland.
The home side looked far more aggressive towards the end of the half though, and when Nqobile Ntuli was brought down in the circle by Ireland’s Stuart Loughrey, the South Africans were awarded their first penalty corner of the match.
Austin Smith’s shot was saved by Ireland keeper David Harte, who was in on the action a few times more in the dying minutes of the half, as the South Africans earned two more penalty corners. They just couldn’t convert these and, with the amount of pressure they had built, they would have felt hard-done-by to reach the halftime break still one goal down.
