Maties gearing up for Varsity final match

A FULL round of hockey fixtures will be played this weekend. All the men’s Grand Challenge teams were scheduled to play at least one match this weekend, with the women all playing today.

There has been a late postponement in the men’s division with the Maties-Langa match rescheduled due to the Maties having reached the Varsity Cup final to be played on Monday at the Maties Astroturf.

Maties reached the final by beating North West University on showdowns in an enthralling semi-final.

They had to claw their way back from a 2-0 deficit and had two Dwayne Samboer drag flicks to thank for the eventual 2-2 draw.

Rob McKinley, the Maties Keeper, was simply outstanding in the showdowns and saved all five of the Pukke attempts. Maties will face their arch-rivals, Tukkies in Monday night’s final and will host the final having topped the league table.

In local action Pinelands will face Victorians both today and tomorrow. It’s a strange league draw this season with many teams facing each other back-to-back.

Central will face Fish Hoek twice as well. It does not afford the losing team much room to improve and this has been apparent in the league, with Pinelands having beaten UCT twice in a week.

UCT generally do start the season slowly, with the addition of new players and generally get stronger as the season progresses.

They lost 3-2 to WPCC on Wednesday and will face the same opponents tomorrow.

Pinelands, to their credit, have taken their chances. Victorians have faced the three top teams in the league thus far and lost those encounters. They have beaten Fish Hoek, who have been poor this season.

Central will be looking to gain maximum points this weekend with Fish Hoek struggling at present.

It is uncharacteristic for the Hoekers to have lost their first four encounters.

They have always been a competitive team and it seems like they are going through a transition.

The loss of stalwarts, Warren Grobbelaar and Craig Haley, has been immense for Fish Hoek, with both players currently working overseas.

In the women’s division, Central will take on Somerset West in Stellenbosch.

Central registered their first victory in the Grand Challenge in 18 games and will have to be at their best to compete against the talented Somerset squad.