Feature match a thriller
Hockey season gets under way with exciting clash
THE Eastern Province outdoor hockey season, comprising 68 men’s and women’s teams competing in a full programme, is under way.
The teams are competing across four divisions in the premier, presidents, first and second leagues.
The feature match of the weekend took place at the KC March Astro, where Uitenhage Comets were in action against defending champions the Gelvan Tornados in a women’s premier league fixture.
The Tornados started the stronger of the two teams, putting good pressure on the Comets defensive circle, which resulted in two early penalty corners, both of which were saved.
The second was only kept out by a superb effort from Comets’ goalkeeper, Christine Vorster.
A third penalty corner for the Tornados beat the keeper, but was cleared off the line by a Comets defender.
It took the Comets 10 minutes to absorb the relentless Tornados pressure and, in the last five minutes of the first quarter, a measure of parity was restored with the Comets making a couple of unrewarded forays into the Tornados defensive quarter as the teams headed into the first break level at 0-0.
The second quarter got off to a fantastic start for the Tornados when Kyra Jurgens guided home a shot at goal by Liezl Dorothy, within a minute of the restart to put her team ahead.
Six minutes later, Jurgens completed her brace as she slotted her second goal.
The Comets were awarded a penalty corner after launching a quick counter-attack, but they failed to convert.
The Tornados, however, executed an excellent penalty corner of their own, finished off by Liezl Dorothy, to take them into a 3-0 lead at the half-time break.
The Tornados were on the attack again from the outset in the third quarter, forcing the Comets to play possession hockey in their own defensive area, and this pressure resulted in three more unconverted penalty corners.
The Comets then decided to push players forward, which sparked off a counter-offensive that opened the match up to provide some exciting hockey.
Play switched from circle to circle and, by the end of the third quarter, possession and territory had been restored to a 50-50 stake.
The fourth quarter saw the Comets maintaining newly gained momentum, and they were rewarded with penalty corner number three after some excellent individual skill from Talia Nomdoe. Catherine Fish scored the goal to pull one back for the Comets.
With two minutes remaining, Nicole Kemp scored for the Comets to bring them within one goal of drawing level, but time had run out and the match ended 3-2 in favour of the Tornados.
The annual premier and presidents knockout cup takes place at the KC March Astro this weekend and it promises a full programme of top-tier hockey.
Both men’s and women’s teams will be in action, with play starting at 6pm on Friday, 1pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.
For more information, the EP Hockey Federation office can be contacted on 061-726-4779.