THE Westville 1st hockey team started their season with a bang and a big win against local rivals, Glenwood.
The game started at a relatively slow tempo with both teams trying to find their feet. Westville created a couple of early chances, but strikers Josh Korte and Keagan Maccallum couldn’t provide the finish.
They then had a series of penalty corners with Ethan Matkovich not being able to beat the Glenwood backline, with Daniel Arinze expertly saving one on the line.
“Glenwood started threatening through Captain Sihle Ngubane and the silky Arinze. Their chances were snuffed out by superb keeping by Westville goalkeeper, Zane do Pinheiro. “Glenwood would have rued their ill-discipline with Arinze and Ngubane both being carded in the first half.
Westville finally broke the deadlock with three minutes left in the first half, when Randal Govender made a fantastic break out of midfield and rolled to Korte who went past three “Glenwood defenders to beat the GK with a fortuitous finish, to go into the break 1-0 up,” said WBHS director of hockey, Cameron Mackay.
The second half started similarly with both teams trying to get the upper hand, the midfield battle was heating up with Joshua Davies and Sihle Ngubane trying to wrestle back control of the game.
Minutes into the second half Westville won a penalty corner which they finally took advantage of with Luke Allen beating the Glenwood defences with a good slip-flick.
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The third chukka started to edge Glenwood’s way with some better attacking play from the men in white. Late into the third chukka, a controversial penalty corner was awarded from outside the ‘D’.
“Glenwood took their chance with Daniel Arinze slotting his flick low into the bottom corner to beat do Pinheiro.
The final chukka saw both teams making more errors as they tried to take control of the game.
“Westville held its shape well and counterattacked through Captain Davies who fed Govender who eliminated his man and beat the keeper with a fantastic backstick finish to give control back to Westville.
“Glenwood finished the game with 10 men after Captain Ngubane got a yellow card after fouling Davies. The game ended 3-1,” said Mackay.
The U14A team had a great 2-0 win to start their season on a fantastic note. Goals came from Tristan Burns and Blake Simpson after a dominant performance.
The U16A team had a great 2-0 win after a dominant performance for most of the match.
William Gillatt started the scoring off with a fantastic flick into the corner of the net and Liam Fourie finished the game off with a diving backhand finish into an empty goal.
2nd 7-0 W
16B 5-0 W
14B 0-0
