The SPAR South African Women’s Indoor Hockey team completed their recovery from two matches down to share the five-match series against Namibia, winning Sunday morning’s fourth Test 2–1 before a dramatic 4–4 draw in the final encounter in Windhoek.
Image supplied by SA Hockey
Tegan Fourie played a decisive role in both matches, scoring the winner in the morning and completing a hat-trick with a late equaliser in the afternoon. The series finished level at two victories apiece, with one drawn Test.
Having kept the series alive with Saturday evening’s 2–1 victory, South Africa entered Sunday needing another win to force a deciding fifth Test.
After a goalless opening quarter, Edith Molikoe converted a penalty corner in the 12th minute to give the visitors the lead. South Africa carried that 1–0 advantage into halftime, the first time in the series they had reached the interval ahead.
Namibia responded through Gillian Hermanus, whose penalty-corner goal in the 23rd minute restored parity. Neither team scored again before the final quarter, leaving South Africa needing a breakthrough to retain their chance of claiming the series.
It arrived through Tegan Fourie in the 33rd minute. Her penalty-corner conversion restored South Africa’s lead, and the visitors held on to secure a second successive 2–1 victory and level the series at 2–2.
The final Test then delivered eight goals and repeated changes in momentum as both teams pursued the deciding victory.
Azaylee Philander gave Namibia an early lead with a field goal in the third minute, before Tegan Fourie converted a penalty corner in the eighth to bring South Africa level.
Ottilie Hinda restored Namibia’s advantage in the 15th minute, leaving the hosts 2–1 ahead at halftime and South Africa once again needing to respond.
An eventful third quarter transformed the contest. Tegan Fourie converted a penalty stroke in the 25th minute to level the scores, before Cerian Fourie struck from a penalty corner three minutes later to put South Africa ahead for the first time.
The advantage lasted only a minute. Philander converted a penalty corner in the 29th minute for her second goal, bringing Namibia level at 3–3 heading into the final quarter.
Jivanka Kruger then scored from open play in the 33rd minute to put the hosts back in front. With Namibia leading 4–3 late in the match, South Africa needed one more response to avoid defeat.
Tegan Fourie supplied it. Her penalty-corner goal in the 39th minute completed her hat-trick and secured the 4–4 draw, ensuring the series ended with honours shared.
Fourie finished the weekend with five goals, including four across Sunday’s two matches. South Africa ended the series unbeaten in the final three Tests, having recovered from a 3–0 opening defeat and a narrow 4–3 loss in the second encounter.
For Calvin Price’s team, the weekend provided valuable international experience, including debuts for Jehan Abrahams, Anja Tromp, Jodie Blows and Manisha Desai. Their introduction, alongside the contributions of the experienced core, added to a determined team response that brought South Africa back into the series.
Sunday’s results
Test 4: Namibia 1–2 SPAR South Africa
South Africa: Edith Molikoe (12’, PC), Tegan Fourie (33’, PC)
Namibia: Gillian Hermanus (23’, PC)
Test 5: SPAR South Africa 4–4 Namibia
South Africa: Tegan Fourie (8’, PC; 25’, PS; 39’, PC), Cerian Fourie (28’, PC)
Namibia: Azaylee Philander (3’, FG; 29’, PC), Ottilie Hinda (15’, FG), Jivanka Kruger (33’, FG)
Final series result: Two wins each and one draw.
