MICHAEL VLISMAS, Pretoria | Saturday 6.30pm.
SOUTHERN Gauteng completed a provincial double when the women’s team beat Western Province 4-1 to retain their inter-provincial title at the Technikon Pretoria on Saturday.
The men’s team won their inter-provincial tournament the week before, after also beating Western Province in the final.
Once again, it was Pietie Coetzee who led her side to their fourth consecutive inter-provincial title in the seven appearances they have made in the finals.
Coetzee’s two goals in this match capped a prolific week in front of goal for her.
She finished the tournament as the leading goalscorer with 12, including a six-goal blitz against Eastern Province in their first match.
Her strength at short corners gave Southerns a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute of the final.
Alison Dare, the player of the tournament and who spent most of the first half receiving treatment for an injured hand, scored the second on the stroke of halftime.
But again it was Coetzee who set up the goal when her reverse stick shot rebounded off the right post and into Dare’s path.
Coetzee collected her second midway through the second half after a probing run by captain Karen Roberts, and Ruth Brooke added the fourth following another break by Coetzee.
Province’s goal came from Hayley Morrow, which was only the second goal Southerns conceded all week.
Third place went to KwaZulu-Natal after their 3-1 victory over North West. — MWP
Scorers:
Final – Southern Gauteng 4 (Pietie Coetzee (2), Alison Dare, Ruth Brooke) Western Province 1 (Hayley Morrow)
Third and fourth place – KwaZulu-Natal 3 (Leanne McNally (2), Kerry Bee) North West 1 (Lizelle Schreuder)
Fifth and sixth place – Northerns 6 (Jackie Geyser (2), Riette Laas, Susan Wessels, Michelle Joubert, Liana Lingenfelder) Eastern Province 1 (Ursula Niekerk)
Seventh and eighth place – Natal Midlands 2 (Kirsty Diemont, Lyn Allen) Free State 0.