Hockey sticks were swung by desperate players during more than one nail-biting finish at the St Stithians College Easter Sports Festival.
Two of the most important games were played on 19 April. One was between the unbeaten St Stithians Girl’s College and the Diocesan School for Girls (DSG), and between the St Stithians Boys’ College and the South African College Schools (SACS), who were described by the Saints’ Chair of Hockey Gary Elmes as “the team to beat”.
The Saints girls were unbeaten, and the fact that one hundred girls spurred them on with war cries in the stands, did not help their opponents. The Saints girls played well but the Diocesan girls, who hail from Cape Town, bore the pressure and parried all attacks.
The Saints could not break their defence until they eventually wore their opponents down so much that almost all possession and territory was theirs.
The Diocesan keeper made many remarkable saves, but six minutes from time Saints dribbled from the centre line, made three short passes in the striking circle, and put one in. The final score was Saints girls 1 – Diocesan girls 0.
“I’m excited about the things we work on and get right,” said Saints girls coach and ex-Springbok Tsoanelo Pholo. “We are unbeaten but it is not so much about results as being competitive.”
Captain Leanne Wilson said she was hopeful the team could finish the festival unbeaten.
The boys’ game was also intense. The SACS, also from Cape Town, pounced on the Saints boys’ defence early on, stealing possession and taking the lead in the fifth minute.
Perhaps the chariots of fire were slow to arrive, as the Saints fans only gained audibility when the boys pulled one back after a successful counter-attack.
10 minutes from halftime, the Saints took the lead with a well-taken penalty corner. Just after half time SACS equalised, and it was game on again.
Although it came close, positive play from the Saints boys put them ahead again and the final score was Saints boys 3 – SACS 2.
Many food and games stands were available to spectators during the festival.
Although rugby was the most popular sport to watch, the others were not short of competitiveness and festivity.
Details: St Stithians College 011 577 6000, webmaster@stithian.com
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