The South African men’s hockey team were held to a 1-1 draw by Canada in the second hockey Test played at Pretoria Technikon on Tuesday night. Both goals came in the first half. The result means South Africa are 1-0 up in the series with one Test to play.
As was the case in the first Test on Monday, it took the home team ten minutes to wake up, but when they did they started to produce some excellent flowing moves that troubled the Canadian defence.
One of those moves — in the 12th minute — should have ended with South Africa taking the early lead, but Darren Gallagher’s first-time shot spooned well over the crossbar.
It was the best of the few opportunities that fell to both teams in open play in the first 35 minutes as the game lost its structure midway through the half.
The Canadians were the first to break the monotony, forcing three short corners in quick succession, the third of which was brilliantly converted by defender Ravi Kahlon to give his team the advantage after 25 minutes.
South Africa hit back immediately to force a short corner two minutes later — their only one of the half — which Gareth Carr finished superbly.
After the initial variation was botched, veteran Gregg Clarke recovered well to feed Carr who slotted the ball from three metres out.
The tempo and intensity of the match stepped up a gear in the second stanza as both teams pressed for the winner and it seemed only a matter of time before tempers would flare. The visitors came close to scoring on two occasions in the first ten minutes of the half, but a poor finishing and some fine goalkeeping from young Franci Du Plessis kept the teams locked at a goal apiece.
Clarke continued to show his class and experience — and a surprising turn of speed at times — to keep the Canadian defence guessing, while midfielder Ian Symons and left back Eric Rose-Innes did yeoman work on both defence and attack.
Canadadian Rob Short was outstanding and was deservedly named man of the match.
The third and final Test takes place at Pretoria Technikon at 5.30pm on Thursday.
Goal-scorers: South Africa 1 (1): Gareth Carr (short corner — 27th minute) Canada 1 (1): Ravi Kahlon (short corner — 25th minute) – Sapa