Little to separate pupils in thrilling schools tournament

THERE was drama at the end of the Umbro Schools Soccer Tournament in East London yesterday afternoon as two penalty shootouts and a goalfest saw the three-day tournament close on a high note.

Pinelands from Cape Town defended their U19 boys title in style, edging a cracking match against fellow Cape Town side Milnerton 5-4, with the match swinging one way and then the next throughout.

The U19 girls and U16 boys divisions then both went to penalties, with Johannesburg teams Rand Girls and St Stithians boys emerging as champions at Hamilton’s Club.

Rand Girls won their penalty shootout 3-1 against Port Elizabeth’s St Dominic’s Priory after their 0-0 draw, and St Stithians edged out local side Bush Bucks 7-6 from the spot in the tournament presented by SA Sports Tours.

Bush Bucks finished runners-up, while another local side, East London High, missed out on the bronze medals in the boys U19 division.

“We have had fewer teams than in previous years but it has been very competitive,” said SA Sports Tours owner Neil Lyon.

The thrilling shootout in the U16 boys final saw both teams’ keepers make saves, with St Stithians walking away with the title after the two sides had fought out a ferocious 2-all draw in the match.

Bush Bucks had taken a two-goal lead into the half-time break thanks to striking machine Asasakhe Rulu, who bagged a two-minute brace.

However, St Stithians hit back in the second half through Tumi Sekhampu and Andrew Parkinson.

“Bush Bucks and St Stithians were the best teams and the match could have gone either way,” said Lyon.

In the third-fourth play-off for the U19 boys division, East London High and PE’s Victoria Park drew 0-0.

Victoria Park then managed to take the win 4-3 on penalties to claim third place in the division.

In the girls U19 division Kimberley Girls High claimed a solid 2-0 win over Selly Park from Rustenburg to finish in third place.

The other East London team in the competition, Academy High in the U19 girls division unfortunately did not make it to the semifinals.

Rand Girls and St Stithians were the only teams to end the tournament unbeaten, while Milnerton had gone into the final unbeaten only for Pinelands, who had lost a game in the group stage, to emerge victorious.