New top dogs of SA hockey crowned

THE South African Indoor Hockey Interprovincial Tournament titles changed hands in exciting finals at Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School on Saturday, as Inland bowed out and the KZN Coastal Raiders Hockey Association’s men and women won their gold medal matches.

An epic men’s showdown went down to a golden goal in favour of Raiders, after the match was deadlocked at 2-2, courtesy of player of the tournament and leading goal-scorer Jethro Eustrice, despite a magnificent Inland fightback when all seemed lost.

In the hotly contested final, play was halted a mere six minutes in when umpire Ayden Shrives called the captains together for a word, but it wasn’t long before Inland’s Brian Gravett was sin-binned, much to the home crowd’s audible disappointment.

The ensuing PC was well saved as Raiders, who were ahead on every stats count, but were unable to convert, continued to be denied by Inland’s sterling defence.

Inland keeper Ian Griffiths saved again from Eustice in a controversial PC, then another, and another, and another, until Eustice made no mistake for a 1-0 lead with 14 minutes left.

Controversial

Local fans groaned in anguish when schoolboy Luke Barnard of St Charles hit the post with 11 minutes to go after Matt Coombes had made the initial play.

Taine Paton did well under pressure to earn a Raiders PC with eight minutes left, and captain Matt Fairweather fired his team into a 2-0 lead, before a great ball from Keenan du Toit saw Inland captain Gavin Jelley come close at the other end.

A time-out with four minutes left saw coaches Ryan Hack (Raiders) and Charlie Pereira (Inland) talk earnestly to their charges, and the Maritzburg lads subbed their keeper for an extra player.

It worked a treat, as the 41-year-old Grant von Mayer pulled one back (2-1).

An then jubilation broke out when Barnard tipped the ball past goalkeeper Chris McCathie within in a split second of the final hooter.

Whether the ball crossed the goalline before the hooter sounded was in hot dispute, but the goal stood and the 2-2 scoreline meant the teams went into golden goal extra time.

Eustice obliged off a PC on the hooter in the first period of extra time.

A new champion was heralded, but it was not without the most magnificent of title defences by a beaten, yet unbowed, Inland team.

In the earlier match, the fittest and most organised women’s team took the honours, as Spar Raiders got in front with goals from Michelle Cogle and Faye Irvine to lead 2-0 at half-time.

Amy Greaves pulled one back for Inland in the 23rd minute, but a penalty corner variation finished off by Jess O’Connor in the 29th restored Raiders’ two-goal cushion.

Top women’s goal-scorer Kara Stella sealed the deal in the 32nd minute, with a PC drag-flick high into the net.