The SA Hockey Senior IPT A Section burst into life on Tuesday as the country’s top provincial sides opened their campaigns at the University of Johannesburg and HoërskoolLinden, with early statements made across both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Image credit: Marcel Sigg
In Women’s Pool A, North West started strongly with a 3-1 win over WP Peninsula. Jasmin Kelly opened the scoring in the seventh minute from a penalty corner before Isabella Booyens levelled with a drag flick. The game remained tight until Lize Claasens restored North West’s lead late in the third quarter, reacting brilliantly to finish from a tight angle. Thabelani Metu then sealed the result in the 59th minute, capitalising on Peninsula’s high line.
Western Province delivered one of the standout performances of the day, brushing aside KZN Raiders 7-0. Brady Wiseman and Caprice Bengston struck early before a Highveld thunderstorm delayed the contest for an hour. On the restart, Caylin Maree and Daniella de Oliveira Mendes extended the advantage before half-time. Charne Maddocks, Onge Mali and Kayla de Waal added further goals after the break as Province laid down a serious opening-day marker.
In Women’s Pool B, Northerns Blues made a flying start with a 5-1 win over Free State. Laiken Brisset scored inside the opening two minutes after a high turnover, before Anja Tromp doubled the lead and Emily Macquet converted from the penalty spot. Andrea van Bosch pulled one back for Free State, but Hanrie Louw and Olympian Ntsopa Mokoena restored complete control before half-time. Remarkably, the 5-1 half-time score remained unchanged.
Hosts Southern Gauteng dismantled the challenge of Eastern Province netting five unanswered goals, only one of which came in the first half through Olympian Hannah Pearce. Their second half surge, despite a lightning delay and in pouring rain, Tamlyn Kock, Teshawnde la Rey, Bianca Wood and Amber Fairon added to the pain for the visiting province in a big statement victory
In the men’s tournament, KZN Raiders opened their Pool A campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Northerns Blues. Tyler Tomsett, fresh from his SA Indoor call-up, struck from a fourth-minute penalty corner to give Raiders the perfect start. Veeshan Govender and Tomsettadded further goals in the second half before Richard Porter pulled one back, but Raiders held firm to secure the points.
Defending champions Western Province also started positively, beating SG Wits 5-2. Phiwayinkosi Dlamini gave Wits an early lead, but Carlon Mentoor responded almost immediately. Brett Horn and Niel Raath then pushed Province into a 3-1 lead before Horn added another after the break. Keanan Wax kept Wits alive with a second, but Mentoor struck late to seal a strong opening win.
In Men’s Pool B, WP Peninsula overcame Free State 4-2, powered by a sensational first-quarter hat-trick from James Flint. The Peninsula forward scored twice inside the opening four minutes before completing his treble in the 15th. Daniel Bruyns made it 4-0 in the final quarter before Free State finished strongly through Tevin Kok and Ross Breytenbach, adding respectability to the scoreline.
Rounding off the day was an impressive victory for Southern Gauteng against Eastern Province, battering them 5-0. Jamie Seale and Dalpiarro Langford scored first half goals while Sihle Ngubane, Liam Hermanus and Cameron le Forestier continued their dancing in the torrential rain, metaphorically raining in the goals themselves for a big opening day smash.
The opening day delivered goals, drama, weather delays and early intent, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested week of provincial hockey.
