Beaulieu takes a comfortable win in the Gauteng Cup against NWU Pukke

Beaulieu Hockey Academy’s men’s A team moved to second place in pool B of the Gauteng Cup, following a solid 4–2 win over North-West University (NWU) Pukke.

When the teams met for week two of the provincial club competition at Beaulieu College on 22 Feb, there was a threat of thunderstorms for the whole day.

Still, families and friends cheered players on under the gloomy dark clouds and sought shelter in the clubhouse when rain inevitably fell.

The game was stopped early for lightning after the third chukka but that was time enough for six goals to be scored – two of those from Beaulieu’s Julian Hykes, a former national men’s player, and two from teammate Winchester Scott.

The pair proved to be an attacking threat Pukke had no answers for, and precision passing by Beaulieu in the Pukke half led to opportunity after opportunity throughout the three chukkas. “I am very happy with how the team performed,” said Beaulieu assistant coach, Reza Rosenberg, who stepped in for Allistar Fredericks on the day.

“We played off the counter-attacks and caught them out well because of it. If the game had not been called off we would have scored loads more goals.”

Fredericks too was proud to hear how his team had done and said this result left Beaulieu tied second on the log with Wanderers, both on four points. This because Beaulieu drew with Wanderers 4–4 in the first week.

Tuks is comfortably ahead on nine points, while Pukke has to play catch-up. The next round will see Beaulieu play against Tuks in Pretoria on 29 Feb.

Unfortunately, Beaulieu’s women’s team had to pull out of the tournament due to a lack of players but the club’s men’s B team is fighting it out in the men’s pool A. Weekly games will be held at Beaulieu until the cup finals on 29 March.

Details: Beaulieu Hockey Academy 011 468 2114.