Beaulieu men crowned Belgotex Elite Club Challenge champions
Coming behind from a 0-2 deficit in the final of the Belgotex Elite Club Challenge, the boys of Beaulieu Hockey Academy scored four goals in less than 15 minutes to bring home R20 000.
Beaulieu Hockey Academy took home R20 000 and some bragging rights after winning a recent club hockey tournament at Riverside Hockey Club, Durban for the first time.
After being down two goals in the final of the Belgotex Elite Club Challenge against Wanderers Hockey Club, the men of Beaulieu clawed their way to a 4–2 victory in the last 15 minutes of the match.
Some of the country’s best club teams featured in the tournament including Old Eds, Western Province Cricket Club, Phoenix, Kearsney and PHSOBC (Pretoria High School Old Boys Club). In the women’s section, Sandton-based and reigning champions Crusaders were on the roster alongside the abovementioned teams except for PHSOBC.
Captain of the winning side Jesse Salo applauded his team for their performances throughout the competition in attack and defence with the team scoring 24 goals and conceding only six.
“From past experiences, Beaulieu is a really good tournament team and the competition really did help our confidence with us now going into the Top Six section of the Southern Gauteng league.
“Our toughest opposition was definitely Wanderers. They had a powerful team and were the favourites to win the tournament,” he said.
The final saw Beaulieu’s fate written on the wall with 15 minutes left in the match after being 0–2 down, however, goals from Armand Scorgie, Reza Rosenburg and two from Dalpiarro Langford ensured the unlikely comeback.
“That last chukka was insane, really unexplainable. I felt in the first three chukkas, we were under par for sure and definitely going through the motions, but the boys were a completely different team in the last 15 minutes.
“It was hard to keep emotions out, but we know this win meant a lot to our late former coach Allistar Fredericks. To win it in the way we did, I know he’s smiling down on us.”
Beaulieu returns to Johannesburg to continue their Southern Gauteng Hockey Association outdoor league fixtures.
In the women’s competition, Riverside Hockey Club won 4–1 against Kearsney Hockey Club in front of their home crowd.
How Beaulieu will utilise their prize money will still be discussed.
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