WBHS records first win against College

WESTVILLE Boys’ High School first XI ended their hockey season on a high note on Saturday – not only beating the number one SA hockey school -Maritzburg College – but also recording their first win against the Pietermaritzburg powerhouse for the first time in the history of the two schools playing each other.

According to Cameron Mackay, WBHS’s first team hockey coach, both teams started the game at a high tempo, trying to get control early on. College created the early chances and created more going forward with captain, Tyson Dlungwana, breaking down the WBHS press. Westville settled into the game and started creating their own chances. This pressure paid off, with both teams winning penalty corners, but neither team could capitalise on their chances.

“Both teams kept creating chances, with Westville goalkeeper, Tristan Smith, keeping his team in the game. With five minutes remaining, Westville created a good chance with some good build-up play, releasing Mbuso Mgobozi with plenty of space. With some good individual skill he beat the first defender and was fouled after beating the goalkeeper to win his team a stroke, which was calmly dispatched into the top corner by captain, Ryan Bradfield. WBHS went into the half 1-0 up,” said Mackay.

The second half started at a high tempo, with some physical tackles going in from both sides. College was down to 10 men early on in the half with MK Letuka receiving a yellow card for lashing out at the Westville captain. A minute later, Westville was 2-0 up with a good second phase goal being finished off by striker, Ryan Colman, after a good initial save by College goalkeeper, Sandile Magoso.

Minutes later, Westville showed their nerves with a poor tackle from Jeremy Gounden, being punished with a green card and levelling the playing fields once again.

“Both teams began looking nervy for different reasons, and this pressure once again told with another yellow card going College’s way with poor discipline from captain, Tyson Dlungwana. College was still in the game creating chances, but again they were denied by Smith. They won two penalty corners midway through the half but both were unsuccessful.

Westville then won their own penalty corner late on to seal the game, but once again this was well saved by Magoso. Westville held strong to finish off the game 2-0 to record their first ever win at fist team level against the number one ranked team in the country,” said Mackay.

He added that it was a great way for Westville to bring their long 28-game season to end, with the senior players finishing off their school hockey in style with the historic win.