The Spar South African National Hockey team recorded their second victory over England A at the Randburg Astroturf on Wednesday, beating the visitors 3-1. All the goals were scored in the first half.
South Africa’s goals came from the team’s top goal-scorer, Pietie Coetzee, as well as Bronwyn Ross and Susan Webber. On Tuesday, South Africa beat England A 4-1 at the same venue.
Coach Ros Howell said she is pleased with the team’s performance, but believes they could do better.
”We have to maintain the momentum we have achieved this year, and build on it,” she said. ”We have a very tough year next year, with the Olympic Games being our main event, and we have to keep focused and build on our strengths.”
Howell said the training camp, which included the two matches, has been very valuable.
”We spent some time working on the Investment in Excellence Programme, which has been developed by Nocsa and Ernst and Young,” she said. ”This is an intensive mental exercise, and I think we all benefited.”
”The two matches also gave me some opportunities to try out some different combinations, and to give some of the South Africa A players a chance to see how they fared in the national team,” she said.
”We also spent some time on basic skills. I have realised that we need to concentrate on our defence, because in recent matches, we have dominated so much that we have possibly lost some of our defensive edge,” said Howell.
The players dispersed after the match, and will assemble again in January, ahead of a Test series against Spain in Durban. — Sapa