Netting their way to victory
BEAULIEU - The annual Beaulieu Hockey Academy Pre-Season Boys First Team Tournament, hosted on 14 March, was a sporting success.
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This year’s tournament had seven teams who played each other in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final. The teams which took part included Fichardt Park High School from Bloemfontein, Boksburg High School, Maragon College, Redhill College, Crawford Lonehill, Helpmekaar High School and the home team Beaulieu College.
With the sun setting and a highveld storm building, the final between Beaulieu College and the Bloemfontein visitors Fichardt Park was played out and became a replica of the first match of the day. The hard work the boys had put in during the day was evident in both teams with injuries and cramps taking their toll.
Beaulieu College managed to score first, but Fichardt Park High School continued to push and managed to equalise with a few minutes remaining. Both teams then threw caution to the wind and counter-attack after counter-attack ensued, but all to no avail as the tournament was to be decided by a one-on-one competition. Beaulieu College goalkeeper Sizwe Mthembu was supreme and saved three of Fichardt Park’s attempts to goal, handing Beaulieu College the tournament with a 3-1 shootout victory.
The player of the tournament went to Jesse Salo, the Beaulieu College captain, and the top goal scorer was one of the juniors in the Beaulieu College team, Keagan Hykes. It was a most enjoyable day of hockey, and all the teams found it worthwhile in preparing their squads for the upcoming season.
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