Rangers stun Rafters to make hockey final

THE MADIKWE Rangers produced a stunning upset by beating hot favourites Orange River Rafters 3-1 yesterday after a penalty shootout to book a place in today’s women’s CTM Premier Hockey League final in Randburg.

Defending champions the Rafters came into the semi-final unbeaten in this year’s competition while the Rangers just made it into the play-offs.the two sides were level at 2-2 after regulation time before the Rangers managed to keep their cool and claim the victory.the Rafters held a 2-0 lead thanks to field goals by Charne Maddocks in the fourth minute and Sulette Damons a minute into the second quarter.

But the second half belonged to the Rangers with Sylvia van Jaarsveldt closing the deficit in the 36th minute before Shindrelee Simmons levelled the scores with 13 minutes to go.

The Rangers set up a date today with former champions the Blyde River Bunters for what is a repeat of the 2016 final.

The Bunters continued their impressive run in the tournament claiming their 16th victory in 20 matches over three seasons beating the St Lucia Lakers 3-2 on penalty shootouts.

The men’s final will see the Dragons take on the Addo Elephants where a new champion will be crowned.

Maropeng Cavemen, the two-times champions, had battled to get going this season and this was also the case in the semi-final yesterday where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Drakensberg Dragons. In the other semi-final, the Elephants overpowered the Garden Route Gazelles 3-1 to qualify for their second final.

Damian Kimfley scored the first of his two goals in the 15th minute. – Ockert de Villiers