Tournament co-favourites Southern Gauteng and Western Province both had emphatic wins on the second day of the Spar Women’s Interprovincial Hockey championship being played at the Randburg Astroturf in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
In A-section matches Southerns ran out 4-0 winners over Northerns, Western Province completely demolished a hapless Midlands 8-0 and the upset of the day was caused by North West who held their more-fancied opponents KwaZulu-Natal to a two-all draw.
But it was the local derby between the hosts and neighbours Northerns that captured the imagination and it failed to disappoint, especially from a Southerns’ perspective. With top striker Pietie Coetzee back in action after a sojourn in Egypt, the reigning champions were always going to be a tough nut to crack.
And it was Coetzee’s vast experience that shone through on the field with the retired international striker scoring one goal and having a hand in two others. Southerns’ first came as early as the fifth minute when Tsoanelo Pholo found Coetzee down the right.
Coetzee made inroads into the Northerns’ goal area and played a pinpoint back-stick pass to Fiona Butler who finished off. The Gautengers made it two in the 20th minute after Anika Fisher got the faintest of touches from a free hit outside their opponent’s circle.
With Southerns midfielders Marsha Marescia and Fiona Butler prominent in midfield, the girls from across the Jukskei barely threatened the hosts’ goal in the first half, albeit one solitary penalty corner was earned, their only one of the match — in the 15th minute.
Coetzee made it 3-0 with a powerful drag flick in the 55th minute and then she was involved in the goal of the game in the 67th minute. Coetzee received the ball on the opponents’ twenty-five, beat at least four defenders on her way to the base line and then found an unmarked Fischer who just had to tap in.
Asked what difference the return of Coetzee made to his side, Southerns coach Adrian Carolan could not say enough. ”Pietie makes a huge difference. A player with over 200 caps has a huge influence on the other forwards. A player with her experience is always going to make the right decisions.”
However, Carolan was not altogether satisfied with his team’s performance. ”We are not where we want to play yet,” said Carolan. ”The 4-0 win today [Tuesday] was a bit flattering.” And with the big clash on Wednesday against arch rivals Western Province, Southerns captain Caroline Jack agreed with the coach. ”We are only at 70% at the moment.”
”Tomorrow we are hoping to take maximum points, but we are not taking being in the final on Saturday for granted.”
Earlier, KwaZulu-Natal struggled to lift their game against a North West side who were hammered 5-0 by Western Province on the opening day. North West came back from a two-goal deficit at half-time with goals from captain Lesley-Ann George and Anel Koortsen.
KwaZulu-Natal coach Lennie Botha admitted that it was difficult to raise his side’s play after their tough encounter against Southern Gauteng on Monday night, which they lost 2-1.
”Credit to North West,” said Botha. ”We had our opportunities but just couldn’t put them away. It was difficult for the girls after last night’s game. But it will be back to basics tomorrow [Wednesday] against Northerns.”
In B-section games, Mynahs defeated Free State 2-1, Witwatersrand outplayed Border to win 3-0 and Peninsula were 2-1 victors over Eastern Province. — Sapa