Pukke sticking to success at Varsity Hockey

NWU Pukke’s Astro Turf will see hockey’s brightest stars display their talent in the second round of the 2017 Varsity Hockey tournament in Potchefstroom this weekend, 12-15 May. Eight teams, including the hosts, NWU-Pukke, will be looking to gain vital wins to give their finals ambitions much needed momentum.

Shaun Hulley’s NWU-Pukke team started their quest for Varsity Hockey supremacy in Stellenbosch this past week, with three straight wins and an agonising penalty shootout loss against Maties.

NWU-Pukke overcame Wits 5-4, beat UJ 2-0 and defeated one of the favourites, Tuks, 1-0 in a   nail-biting match.   Pukke are second on the overall log behind Maties and will need to be on hot form in familiar territory this coming weekend. Pukke first face NMMU Madibaz on Friday night,    followed by newcomers, UKZN, on Saturday and a tough battle against Kovsies on Sunday night.

All these matches will be vitally important, especially in view of the fact that final spots will be up for grabs. The top two teams will play each other in the final on 22 May.

One of the exciting features of this year’s Varsity Hockey tournament is the emphasis on innovation and attacking play, such as awarding two goals to a team that scores a field goal in open play.  ‘By awarding these two goals, we hope to encourage an entertaining brand of hockey for spectators, while offering something unique for the players, too.

Matches will now also be contested right until the final whistle, even if a team is two or three goals down,’ said Varsity Hockey code manager, Jana Arlow.

The powerplay period will also be a part of Varsity Hockey with any team able to double their lead in this        2-minute interval, with the added bonus of the opposition having to bench two of their players during this period. Matches can definitely swing in any direction – something that all the teams must be aware of.

No match can end in a draw and the dreaded penalty shootout will then be needed to determine a winner –    something that Pukke has been on the receiving end of.

According to Sheldon Rostron, NWU Pukke hockey manager, the facilities are in tip-top shape for this weekend’s action and he expects everything to go swimmingly.

‘There will be a lot of activity on and off the Astro Turf with the addition of food stalls and a beer garden.

Everything has gone pretty well with the preparation for this weekend. We are expecting a big crowd and great hockey in general,’ he said. ‘I have also been very satisfied with the  performance of the Pukke women, thus far. Momentum will be important and this good start will help in the Potch leg of the tournament.’

One of Pukke’s best players, thus far in the tournament, is their captain, Jessica de Bruyn.

Dunell van Taak has also put in a number of stellar performances. Expect a number of players to put their hands up in front of family and friends at the Astro Turf this weekend.

Fixtures:

Friday

13:30: UJ – Wits

15:15: Kovsies – UZKN

17:00: Maties – Tuks

18:45: NWU Puk – Madibaz

Saturday

13:30: UJ – Tuks

15:15: Maties – Wits

17:00: Madibaz – Kovsies

18:45: NWU Puk – UKZN

Sunday

13:30: UJ – Madibaz

15:15: Tuks – Wits

17:00: Maties – UKZN

18:45: NWU Puk – Kovsies.