Bonus point win for Griffins in tournament opener
BEAULIEU – The Northside Griffins kicked off the inaugural Joburg Hockey League tournament with a bonus-point win, and the very first match between the Central Samurais and Sporting Superheroes resulted in a shootout.
A penalty shootout and a first bonus-point win all contributed to an exciting three matches for the U18 girls playing in the Johannesburg Hockey League on 2 March at Beaulieu College AstroTurf.
The first match between Sporting Superheroes and Central Samurais ended in a 4–4 stalemate. The second match between Eastside Mavericks and Mzansi Hawks resulted in a 3–0 win for the Mavericks.
The final game between Jozi Warriors and Northside Griffins was one of the matches to look out for with the Griffins having many players from the Beaulieu Hockey Academy team. The first chukka in this game saw two penalty corners awarded to the Griffins but they were unable to convert them. Captain Tamlyn Kock scored a field goal for the Griffins and as it was a field goal, it counted as two goals.
The Griffins continued to attack but the defence of the Warriors remained solid led by Warriors goalie Amy McCarthy. In the third chukka, Kock scored another goal from a penalty corner and then unluckily, McCarthy pulled off another fine save but the ball struck a defenders’ foot. and a penalty stroke was awarded to Griffins which they capitalised on.
With the score at 4–0 and 15 minutes left, one more goal for Griffins would earn them a bonus point. And so it would be after Tatum Marshall converted a penalty corner to add her name to the scoreboard and help her team to a 5–0 win. It was no surprise that McCarthy was named player of the match for her outstanding defence in goals.
Coach of Jozi Warriors, Taheera Mooi said she was impressed with how her girls played even though they lost, considering the team had not played together for a while. Griffins coach, Errol Davis felt his side did not capitalise on all the chances they had. “When there were chances for goals, they weren’t thinking with the ball. They wanted to play the keeper as opposed to slipping it to the side. “However, they still played very well,” he said.
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