Conberg’s experience could be crucial

THE semi-finals of the local club hockey competition, to be played at Hartleyvale today, have thrown up some surprises.

The rest of the league will playing in the normal format with teams playing each other on a home and away basis.

In the women’s division of the knockout Victorians have been the one casualty, with Ryan Pillay’s Conberg team beating them on showdowns. Pillay has not had a good run when it comes to showdowns with his teams doing well in this format. However, in this encounter his charges did the job.

Maties and Somerset progressed with ease and have set up an enthralling encounter at 4.30pm. Maties have won two of the last six games between the sides, with four ending in draws.

In the other semi, WPCC should be too strong for Conberg, if the former team plays their strongest squad. In last week’s quarter-final they blooded a few youngsters and if they do so again today then Conberg’s experience might just give them a chance.

In the men’s division Vics caused the biggest shock by eliminating the more-fancied Central last week.

Vics face WPCC in the first semi, a team they beat in the first league game of the season.

Maties face Fish Hoek in the last match and will be expected to progress. In their last meeting Maties dominated but the scoreline ended 1-1. – Allan Isaacs