SA hockey women draw, men take two

PARKTOWN – The SA men and women both fail to score against their first competition in the Hockey World League Semi-Final.

July 12, 2017

Roxy de Villiers 2 minutes read

South African player, Celia Evans dribbles the ball down the left channel of the field with an Indian hot on her heels.

It was a goalless start for South Africa hockey women’s and men’s teams in the Hockey World League Semi-Final as a draw and loss respectively for the hosting nation means more needs to be done going into the tournament.

On 8 June, the women had India on the backfoot during the first quarter of the match at Wits Universtiy, after setting up a three-quarter press in India’s defensive circle. SA made a few early attempts at goal but was denied by India’s defenders. Later, SA made two attempts at the goal using the left channel for two unsuccessful back-stick shots.

South Africa’s Ryan Julius shadows Ireland’s John Jackson in hopes of stealing the ball before Jackson makes a reverse stick shot to switch up Ireland’s play.

In the third quarter, SA managed to get the ball past the keeper after pressuring India in their defensive circle which was disallowed following a referral from India. Later, ball possession evened out giving India a chance to break away and make an unsuccessful attempt at goal.

In the fourth quarter, SA was finally awarded a penalty corner after an Indian green card. They went for a drag-flick shot and missed shortly before the final whistle blew for a 0–0 result.

While the SA women’s strategy was clear from the start, the men seemed as though they had no tactic against Ireland other than out-skilling them. The Irish men walked away with a 2–0 win – one field goal and one penalty corner goal.

As the SA women had set up their press early in the game, Ireland’s men attacked within the first few minutes leading to an early goal for the men in green and white with no referral from SA.

Although ball possession leaned more towards Ireland, SA played the penalty corner game but even after being awarded multiple short corners during the match, the SA men were unable to finish their plays.

Matthew Guise-Brown (green) of South Africa tries to take the ball off Ireland’s Matthew Nelson during a break away to the goals from Ireland.

Throughout the match, SA attempted to set up a press against the team but was forced to focus on backline and wide play after repeatedly being shut down by the Irish defence in the middle channel.

During the last quarter, SA suffered a green card, and then a yellow card, leaving them with only 10 players on the field during the most important quarter of the game.

SA’s next two matches will be tough. The men will take on Germany, a team currently ranked third in the International Hockey Federation and the women will go up against Argentina who is also ranked third.