UJ crowned Varsity Hockey Champions
UJ won the much coveted Varsity Cup hockey trophy.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) were crowned Varsity Hockey Champions on Monday night, May 18, after beating UFS-Kovsies 3-0 in the City of Roses.
The Johannesburg students emulated the feats of their male counterparts, who claimed the men’s title in 2014, after ending their campaign with a strong performance to hand Kovsies their first and only defeat of the competition.
It took awhile into the second half for UJ to break the deadlock, but once they found the back of the net, they could not stop.
The match started frantically, with both teams struggling to hold possession. Kovsies managed to secure a short corner with their first decent attack in the sixth minute. Captain Line Malan stepped up and took a shot, but found no glory as Nica Nel comfortably dealt with the attempt.
It was all the home side from that point on as UJ were placed under all sorts of pressure, but the visitors held their own and denied Kovsies any further shots at goal as the match remained goalless at the end of the first quarter.
With the powerplay active, Kovsies were awarded a short corner but Izelle Lategan’s effort rebounded off the upright three minutes into the quarter and they remained on the attack but UJ withstood the pressure and managed to survive the early onslaught. UJ were awarded a short corner in the 23rd minute but found no reward as Nicole Walraven managed to run down Lilian du Plessis’ shot at goal.
The visitors maintained their pressure on the home side for the remainder of the half and made their way into the Kovsies circle on numerous occasions but could not find that final touch to guide the ball home as the match remained deadlocked at the half-time interval.
UJ were awarded a short corner seconds after the resumption of play but were once again denied by Walraven, which allowed Kovsies to launch an immediate counterattack but the UJ defence stood their ground and the attack came to nothing. The tense midfield battle continued for much of the quarter with both sides creating chances before UJ were awarded a short corner.
This time du Plessis was denied by a secular save by Kovsies’ goalkeeper but UJ would penetrate the home side’s fortress a few seconds later when du Plessis set off on a run down the baseline and placed a pass across the face of goal which was tapped in, to hand the visitors the all-important lead after 40 minutes.
With ten minutes remaining, Kovsies’ task became harder when du Plessis finally found the backboard after she slotted home a perfectly placed drag flick to leave the Kovsies keeper flat-footed. Kovsies threw everything they had at the visitors but the Johannesburg ladies were having none of it and denied the home side with every circle entry.
The result was put to bed three minutes from full-time, when UJ captain Kaila-Ron Flemming smashed home a fantastic reverse stick shot from the top of the circle to leave Kovsies’ keeper with no chance.
Kovsies could not launch a comeback as UJ avenged their 1-5 defeat earlier in the competition and claim the title of 2015 Varsity Hockey champions.
Mugg and Bean Star Save of the Match: Chloe Keeping (UJ).
Jet Striker of the Match: Kaila-Ron Flemming (UJ).
FNB Player of the Match: Kaila-Ron Flemming (UJ).
