Western Province reigns supreme as KZN claim third at IPT
Riverside Sports Club played host to the Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) which saw the Western Province men's and women's teams win.
SA U21 player Tatum Kroutz drives up the field with KZN Raiders player Badrunnissa Halliday defending in their bronze match at the IPT at Riverside Sports Club.
IT was a moment to savour for Western Province hockey as their men’s team secured a third consecutive Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) title, while the Western Province women’s team secured the IPT title for the first time in more than a decade.
The men’s team beat the South Africa U21 team 2–1 in the final while the women’s team beat the Northern Blues 2–0.
Riverside Sports Club played host to the tournament which also saw the national U21 men’s and women’s side take part.
For the SA U21 women’s team, the tournament was a way to help them in their preparation for the FIH Junior World Cup in Chile in December while the men’s team also used it in preparation for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in Malaysia, also in December.
On the local side, the province was represented by the KZN Raiders in the A-Section and the KZN Mynahs in the B-Section who performed admirably.
In the men’s action, Southern Gauteng pipped the KZN Raiders 4–2 for the bronze medal while SG Witsies beat the KZN Mynahs 1–0 in the final.
In the women’s action, the KZN Raiders sealed a bronze medal with a 2–0 win over SA U21, thanks to goals from captain Jess Lardant and Malikah Hamza.
Eastern Province earned the B-Section bronze with a 1–0 win over KZN Mynahs.
Another impressive accolade was earned by local resident and KZN Raiders player, Gowan Jones, who was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Kayla Berkenshaw, representing the KZN Mynahs in the B-Section, was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
SA U21 player Ane Janes van Vuuren competes for the ball against KZN Raiders player Badrunnissa Halliday in their bronze-medal match at the IPT. The KZN Raiders won the game 2–0.SA U21 player Taheera Augousti in action.SA U21 player Shanna Mendonça comes up against KZN Raiders player Kerryn Swanepoel.SA U21 player Ntsopa Mkoena closes in on KZN Raiders player Kelsey Swanepoel in the bronze-medal match.SA U21 player Kayla Swarts fires a pass down the line in the bronze-medal match against the KZN Raiders.KZN Raiders player Donna Small carries the ball for her team in their bronze-medal match.KZN Raiders player Donna Small shields the ball from SA U21 player Ntsopa Mkoena.SAU21 player Jenna Blaauw scans the field for a pass.KZN Raiders player Kelsey Swanepoel searches for a pass.KZN Raiders player and skipper Jess Lardant competes for the ball against an SA U21 player Jenna Blaauw.Nisa Mendonça and Natalie Smyth were there to support local hockey.Tsoanelo Pholo and David Britz.Charlene Isaacs, Debbie Kock, Darryl Kock and Shane Isaacs were there to support their children who were SAU21 players – Tamlyn Kock and Parris-Gail Isaacs.Head coach of the SA Indoor Women’s hockey team, Andrew John Spieringshoek with Eastern Province supporters Sandi and Guy Cook.Wandile Ngcungama and Nhlanhla Nyawo were two of the KZN representatives on the day.Kelly van der Berg and Kelly Gilliver were there to support KZN.The Clack family, Chad, Dane and Danni, were there to support the KZN Raiders teams.Melissa Cliff, Tracey White and KZN Mynahs player Nicholas White. The Mynahs won silver in the B-Section of the IPT.Southern Gauteng Witsies players Keown Leong-Colom and Dechlan Bennett.SA U21 players Kayla Swarts, Marcel Lamont and Tamlyn Kock.SAU 21 player and captain, Caylin Maree, and Kurt Cerfontyne, technical director of the team.